mum 


IfflltlGHOUT  THl 

illiiiiiliiiiiii 


mm'-mm 


^^^2>t>c^ 


x^ 


^-^-^  /      /fT^J^ 


THE 


PRESBYTEPilAN    CHURCH 


THROUCxHOUT   THE    WORLD: 


FROM  THE  EARLIEST  TO  THE  PRESENT   TIMES, 


^txus  ai  ^Togmphrml  antr  pislorkal  Sk^tch^. 


X</  .  \ 


NEW     Y  O  K  K : 
DE   WITT    C.    LENT    &    COMPANY. 

LONDON,  CANADA:  G.  LAWRENCE. 

1874. 


Kntered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1873,  ''y 

DE   WHT   C.    LENT    &   CO., 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


John  F.  Trow  &  Son,  Printers, 
205-413  East  ijth  St.,  New  Yoki:. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

CHAPTER  I. 
The  Presbyterian  CnuRcn  in  the  Earliest  Tijies 1 


CHAPTER  11. 
The  Presbyterian  CnxjRcn  in  Scotland 20 

CHAPTER  III. 
The  Presbyterian  CnuRcn  in  Ireland 48 

CHAPTER  IV. 
The  Presbyterian  CnuRcn  in  England 58 

CHAPTER  V. 
The  Presbyterian  Church  m  Switzerland 74 

CHAPTER   VI. 
The  Presbyteri^in  Ciiurch  in  Germany 80 

CHAPTER  VII. 
The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  Netiierl-vnds  and  in  France    97 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
The  Presbyterian  Church  in  Austria  and  Hungary 107 


iii  CONTENTS. 

PASB 

CHAPTER   TX. 
Early  Days  of  tiik  Puesbytkuian  Cnuncn  in  Ajierica 112 

CHAPTER  X. 
Sketches  of  Latf.u  PREsrATEUi.vN  History  rx  Asierica 127 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Historical  SKETcriios  aftkii  1S;jT 149 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Biographical  Sketciif:s 251 

CH.VPTER  XIII. 
The  Reunion 418 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
The  Assemblies  op  18G9 491 

CHAPTER  XV. 
The  Reconstruction 593 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
The  Future  Church 641 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
The  Memorial  Eund 671 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Explanatory  and  St.\tistical  Sketches 695 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

The  Valleys  of  the  Vaudois Frontispiece. 

Martyrdom  of  a  Vaudois 1 

Heads  blown  off  with  Powder 5 

Thrown  from  Precipices 9 

Vaudois  Women  Buried  Alive 13 

Banner  of  the  Inquisition 15 

Blazing  Ovens  filled  with  Vaudois 17 

Pope    Pius   IV.    and    his   Cardinals  witnessing   the   Death  op 

Paschal 21 

John  Knox , 28 

John  Knox's  House 33 

St.  Giles'  Church 39 

Portrait  op  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chalmers 4o 

Greyfriars'  Church,  Edinburgh 57 

Waldensiajst  Seal 73 

Ulric  Zwingli 74 

John  Calvin 76 

Martin  Luther 80 

The  Wartburg 81 

Luther  finds  the  Latin  Bible  at  Erfurt 85 

Facsimile  op  Luther's  Hand-writing 89 

Philip  Melancthon 91 

Luther  Burning  the  Pope's  Bull 93 

Philip  II 98 

William  op  Orange 99 

Emblems  of  Beggars  op  Holland 100 

A  Communion  G-vthering  in  the  Olden  Time 117 

Seal  of  the  Trustees  of  the  General  Assembly 148 

Old  Princeton  College 149 

Auburn  Seminary 198 

Seal  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  op  Publication 250 

Portrait  op  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ashbel  Green 851 

Portrait  op  the  Rev.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander 261 

Portrait  op  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  W.  Alexander 265 


X  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAQB 

PoUTUAIT    (IF   TFIE    REV.    DR.    MURRAY 320 

CnAIR.MIiN    OF   THE   REUNION   COMMITTEE  OP   18GG 826 

Drs.    Krcbs,    Brauieid,    Gnrley.    Beitly. 

Portrait  op  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tustin 347 

Portrait  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Spring 352 

Portrait  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Richards 356 

Portrait  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beecheu 385 

Portrait  op  the  Rev.  Alkert  Barnes 406 

Church  op  the  Covenant,  New  York 418 

Portrait  op  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stearns 426 

Portrait  op  the  Rev.  Dr.  Adams 426 

Portrait  op  the  Rev.  Dr.  Musorave 481 

Portrait  op  the  Rev-.  Dr.  Patterson 481 

Brick  CnuRcn,  New  York 489 

Portrait  op  the  Rev.  Dr.  Atwater 511 

Portrait  op  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shaw    511 

Portrait  op  Hon.  C.  D.  Drake 512 

Portrait  of  Hon.  William  Strong 512 

First  Church,  Pittsburg 553 

Facsimile  Certificate  op  Reunion 583 

Third  Church,  Pittsburg 592 

Portrait  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lord 593 

PoRFRAiT  of  Robert  Carter,  Esq 593 

First  Church,  Philadelphia 597 

Moder.\tors  op  1837,  1809,  1870 626 

Urs.   Elliot,   Jacobus,    Fowler,    Bat^kus. 

Portrait  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wilson 632 

Portrait  op  Hon.  W.  M.  Francis 632 

Portrait  op  Henry  Day,  Esq  632 

Portrait  of  J.  C.  Grier,  Esq 632 

Portrait  of  Hon.  Daniel  Halnes 633 

Portrait  of  Hon.  Willlui  E.  Dodge 633 

Portrait  of  John  I..  Knight,  Esq. 641 

Portrait  of  Hon.  J.  S.  Farrand 641 

The  Me.morial  Vignette 671 

Portrait  op  Rev.  Dr.  A.  G.  Hall 778 

POR'IRAIT    OF    llKV.     \)K.    S.   W.     FiSUER 778 


B^*  A  Mop  qf  The  Prcshyierian  Church  in  the  United  States,  in  a  neat 
coicr,  w  presented  to  each  Sabscriber  to  this  Volume.  ..^J) 


EDITOR'S    INTRODUCTION. 


The  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  throughout  the  Worhl, 
furnishes  facts  and  incidents  full  of  interest  to  all  classes  of  readers. 
The  present  hook  is  designed  for  general  circulation  among  those  who 
have  neither  time  nor  inclination  to  study  the  more  elaborate  works 
that  have  been  written  upon  this  subject.  In  its  Historical  and 
Biographical  sketches  is  found  a  mass  of  useful  information  in  a 
popular  form.  It  is  a  history/ for  the  people.  No  other  work  yet  pub- 
lished covers  all  the  ground  which  this  does. 

It  reviews  the  rise  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  earliest 
times,  traces  its  course  through  the  Reformation  period  in  Europe, 
and  illustrates  its  rapid  progress  and  success  in  the  New  "World.  In 
bringing  down  to  the  present  day  the  more  recent  history  of  the 
American  Church,  the  best  portions  of  "The  Presbyterian  Re- 
union Memorial  "  have  been  incorporated  with  this  volume.  These 
are,  for  the  most  part,  from  the  pens  of  distinguished  clergymen, 
whose  personal  observation  of  the  scenes  which  they  describe  renders 
their  statements  worthy  of  full  confidence. 

The  "  Historical  Sketches  after  1837,  Part  First,"  were  written 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Miller ;  those  of  the  "  Second  Part,"  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  F.  Stearns;  the  "Biographical  Sketches  after  1837, 
Part  First,"  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  B.  Sprague  ;  those  of  "  Part  Second," 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Z.  M.  Humphrey.  The  chapter  upon  "  The  Re- 
union," is  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Adams,  and  that  on 
"  The  Assemblies  of  1869,"  was  furnished  by  the  Rev.  Drs.  M.  W. 
Jacobus  and  P.  H.  Fowler.  The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall  is  the  author 
of  the  chapter  entitled,  "  The  Future  Church  ;  "  and  that  upon  "  The 
Memorial  Fund,"  was  prepared  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  F.  F.  EUinwood, 
who  was  the  Secretary  of  the  Committee  which  secured  it. 

In  selecting  the  various  Biograjjhical  Sketches  of  this  volume, 
multitudes  more  might  have  been  presented,  setting  forth  the  charac- 


Xii  EDITORS   INTRODUCTION. 

tcristics  of  ministers  as  excellent  and  as  fomous  as  any  herein  in- 
cluded. The  specified  limits  of  such  a  work  rendered  a  choice  impera- 
tive, and  this  has  been  made  not  without  some  reference  to  the  com- 
parative facility  with  which  the  material  for  different  sketches  could 
be  obtained.  Those  who  miss  from  the  series  some  honored  and 
beloved  names  which  they  look  for,  may  rest  assured  that  the  omission 
has  been  occasioned  by  these  circumstances,  and  not  by  the  want  of 
due  appreciation  with  reference  to  the  individuals  concerned. 

Tiie  Publishers  have  spared  no  expense  to  make  the  typogi'aphical 
details  of  the  book  worthy  of  its  contents.  The  steel  and  wood 
engi-avings  with  whi.ch  it  is  liberally  illustrated  are  by  the  best  artists. 
They  consist  of  portraits  of  the  champions  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  various  nations,  and  of  different  times;  together  with 
views  of  scenes  of  historic  interest,  and  representations  of  events  de- 
scribed in  the  successive  chapters  of  the  work. 

The  beautiful  Memorial  Vignette  appears  in  connection  with 
the  chapter  on  "  The  Memorial  Fund,"  by  the  kind  consent  of  W.  S. 
Oilman,  Esq.  The  Rev.  Di-.  Field  has  also  allowed  a  reduced  copy 
of  his  "  Map  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States,"  to  be 
made  by  the  publishers.  The  Map,  folded  and  put  into  a  handsome 
cover  to  match  this  volume,  is  presented  to  each  subscriber. 

As  this  volume  finds  its  place  in  a  multitude  of  homes  through 
all  the  land,  its  perusal  must  stimulate  parents  and  children,  the  old 
and  the  young,  to  revere  the  virtues  and  to  imitate  the  Christian  hero- 
ism of  the  worthies  it  commemorates. 

G.  S.  PLUM  LEY. 

Kkw  Yokk,  March  1st,  1874. 


EDITOKS    INTEODUCTION.  Xlll 


AUTHORITIES  CONSULTED  IN  THE  PREPARATION   OF 
THIS  WORK. 

Alexander's  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Ireland 

A  Message  to  Ruling  Elders. 

Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States. 

Breed's  Pkesbyterianism  300  Years  Ago. 

Baird's  Religion  in  America. 

Brand's  History  of  the  Church  in  Holland. 

D'Aubigne's  History  of  the  Reformation. 

Gieseler's  Church  History. 

Gillett's  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Hetherington's  History  of  the  Church  of  Scotland. 

Hetherington's  History  op  the  "Westminster  Assembly. 

Hodge's  Constitutional  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Knox's  History  of  the  Reformation. 

Manual  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  America. 

Miller  on  Ruling  Elders, 

Miller's  Presbyterianism. 

Miller's  Primitive  and  Apostolical  Order. 

Milman's  History  of  the  Jews. 

Minutes  of  the  General  Assemblies  of  the  Several  Churches 

referred  to. 
Mosheim's  Church  History. 

Neander's  Planting  and  Training  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Presbyterian  Reunion  Memorial  Volume. 
Rockwell's  Sketches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Stanley's  History  of  the  Church  of  Scotland. 
The  Government  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ. 
The  Log  College. 
The  Tercentenary  Book. 
The  Tercentenary  Monument. 
Yitringa,  "  De  Synagoga  Yetere." 
Webster's  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  America 

TO  17 GO.     Et  cetera. 


MUvlYRDOM  Ob    A    VALIOIS 


THE 


Presbyterian  Church. 


CHAPTER    I. 

THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN  THE  EARLIEST  TIMES. 

The  word  PRESBYTERIAN  is  derived  from  Pres- 
byter, or  Elder,  and  the  Presbyterian  Church  is  that 
church  in  which  the  government  of  the  society  of  be- 
lievers is  committed  to  elders.  These  elders  were  fi'om 
the  earliest  times  of  two  classes  or  orders,  namely, 
teaching  elders,  or  ministers,  and  ruling  elders.  The 
ministers  are  specially  set  apart  and  ordained  by  the 
laying  on  of  hands  to  preach  the  word  of  God  to  par- 
ticular congregations.  The  ruling  elders  are  selected 
from  among  the  brethren  of  each  congregation  to  assist 
the  minister  or  pastor. 

This  teaching  elder  of  a  particular  congregation,  with 
his  assistants,  the  ruling  elders,. are  usually  called  the 
Church  Session.  Above  the  Session  is  the  Presbytery, 
a  convention  of  all  the  ministers  of  a  certain  district, 
meeting  with  ruling  elders  appointed  from  each  Ses- 
sion within  the  same  district,  so  that  every  congregation 
may  be  represented  in  the  body  by  both  a  teaching  and 
a  ruling  elder.  Above  the  Presbytery  are  other  courts, 
as  Synods,  and  the  General  Assembly. 

The  Synod  consists  of  all  the  ministers  and  ruling 
elders  from  all  the  churches  within  the  bounds  of  sev- 
1 


2  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

eral  Presbyteries.  Where  Presbyterian  clmrclies  are 
numeious  enougli  to  require  a  still  higher  Court  there 
13  a  General  Assembly,  to  which  delegates  are  sent 
from  all  the  Presbyteries. 

The  teaching  elders  or  ministers  are  regarded  as 
equals,  no  one  of  their  number  being  permitted  to  exer- 
cise any  control  or  authority  over  the  others.  In  all  the 
acts  and  recommendations  of  the  several  courts  the  min- 
isters share  the  responsibility  with  the  ruling  elders, 
who  have  an  equal  right  with  them  to  deliberate  and  to 
vote  upon  all  questions. 

An  examination  of  the  constitution  of  the  several 
courts  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  mil  show  that  its 
government  is  throughout  a  representative  government. 
It  exists  in  many  countries  as  the  prevailing  form  of 
church  order,  and  is  found  ^vith  some  diversity  as  to 
the  names  and  functions  of  its  several  judicatories  in  all 
the  grand  divisions  of  the  globe.  A  mere  list  of  the 
different  Presbyterian  churches  of  the  world  would  oc- 
cupy too  much  space  for  our  purpose,  but  it  embraces 
a  multitude  of  professed  Christians,  numbering  more 
than  fifty -two  millions  in  North  America,  in  Great  Brit- 
ain, the  Scandinavian  kingdoms,  the  Netherlands, 
France,  Germany,  Austria,  Bohemia,  Switzerland,  Italy, 
and,  by  missionary  efforts,  in  South  America,  and  in 
various  countries  of  Asia  and  Africa. 

If  we  go  back  to  the  earliest  records  of  the  existence 
of  a  system  of  supervision  in  religious  matters,  like  that 
exercised  in  the  Presbyterian  church  by  ministers  and 
ruling  elders,  we  reach  a  very  remote  antiquity. 

The  patriarchal  form  of  government  is  the  exact  coun- 
terpart of  it.     The  father  of  the  household  was  also  its 


EARLIEST   TIMES.  3 

priest,  and  when,  from  length  of  days,  lie  became  the 
patriarch  of  several  families,  as  the  respective  heads 
were  his  counsellors  in  all  secular  affairs,  they,  as  the 
elders,  advised  also  in  those  that  were  of  a  religious 
character. 

Such  was  the  church  after  the  confirmation  of  (rod's 
covenant  with  Adam ;  the  church  of  Adam,  and  Seth, 
of  Noah  and  his  sons,  of  Abraham  and  his  descendants. 

When  God  commissioned  Moses  to  deliver  the  Israel- 
ites from  Egypt  he  commanded  him  to  go  and  gather 
the  Elders  tosrether  and  announce  to  them  his  messa2:e. 
When  his  brother  Aaron  was,  by  the  Divine  Command, 
joined  to  him  as  a  spokesman,  they  went  and  gathered 
together  all  the  elders  of  the  children  of  Israel :  and 
Aaron  spake  all  the  words  which  the  Lord  had  spoken 
unto  Moses. 

Doubtless  those  who  were  thus  styled  elders  were 
originally  the  aged  ones  in  each  family  or  community, 
as  such  persons  were  anciently  esteemed  as  the  most 
experienced,  wise,  and  prudent.  The  same  idea  has 
fastened  itself  to  numerous  official  designations  in  the 
more  modern  tongues. 

The  Latin  adjective  Senior,  meaning  elder,  has  thus 
afforded  the  titles.  Senator  and  Seigneur ;  and  the 
name  elder -man^  now  called  alderman,  is  but  one  of 
several  that  would  furnish  similar  illustrations  in  the 
English  language. 

In  the  ^vilderness  Moses  often  summons  the  elders, 
asks  their  counsel,  and  acts  through  them  upon  the  peo- 
ple. They  were  of  different  ranks,  and  possessed 
various  powers.  Seventy  elders  constituted  what 
might  be  called  the  General  Assembly,  ruling  the  en- 


4  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

tire  nation.  Below  these  there  were  elders  over  thou- 
sands, over  hundreds,  over  fifties,  and  over  tens,  all  in 
their  different  spheres  acting  together  and  in  subordi- 
nation to  each  other.  The  continued  service  of  the 
elders  is  recognized  during  the  administration  of  Joshua, 
and  the  judges,  and  the  kings.  There  is  reason  to 
believe  that  even  in  their  captivity  the  sacred  nation 
Avere  still  subject  in  their  religious  relations  to  elders ; 
for,  when  they  came  back  to  be  settled  once  more  in 
their  own  land,  the  elders  are  found  supervising  them 
as  of  old.  In  the  Synagogue  administration,  we  have 
essentially  all  the  functions  of  elders  in  a  Presbyterian 
church  performed  by  what  we  may  call  its  Session 
or  Consistory,  with  a  president,  or  pastor,  styled  "  the 
Ruler  of  the  Synagogue."  These  elders  received  ap- 
plicants to  the  ordinances,  watched  over  the  members 
of  the  flock  to  guard  their  morals,  and  to  secure  their 
compliance  with  the  regular  ceremonies  of  their  pro- 
fession, and,  when  necessary,  they  administered  disci- 
pline, and  excluded  from  the  society  of  the  faithful 
the  disobedient  or  unruly. 

The  Jewish  Synagogue  was  the  model  of  the  j^rimitive 
church  of  apostolic  days.  Like  each  synagogue,  every 
congregation  has  its  bishop,  its  elders,  and  its  deacons. 

It  is  not  until  the  third  century  that  we  find  any 
authentic  records  of  any  chui'ches  with  a  different  or- 
ganization. Then  we  begin  to  see  the  influence  of  a 
worldly  ambition  leading  some  bishops  or  pastors  to 
lord  it  over  others  of  less  influence.  From  such  be- 
ginnings the  power  of  the  priesthood  rose  to  the  height 
of  papal  arrogance,  until  a  pope  was  worshipped  like 
God,  and  in  pride  trod  upon  princes  and  kings. 


HEADS  DLOVVN  OFF  WITH  POWDEB    (1655). 


EARLIEST   TIMES.  7 

When  one  asks  wliafc  are  the  doctrines  believed  and 
taught  by  the  Presbyterian  Church,  the  answer  its 
teachers  furnish  is :  We  believe  and  teach  what  the 
Scriptures  themselves  teach :  making  those  doctrines 
most  prominent  which  they  most  earnestly  insist  upon. 
Since  Old  Testament  times,  the  great  authorities  for 
doctrine,  following  in  the  footsteps  of  St.  Paul,  are 
Augustine,  bishop  or  pastor  of  Hippo;  in  Africa,  who 
was  born  in  354,  and  died  430 ;  and  Calvin,  who  was 
born  in  1509,  and  died  in  1564. 

The  Waldenses,  dwelling  in  the  valleys  of  Piedmont, 
in  the  extreme  north-western  part  of  Italy,  claim  that 
from  Christ  and  the  apostles  their  fathers  received  the 
doctrines  of  God's  word,  as  they  have  always  believed 
them,  and  the  Presbyterian  form  of  church  government, 
as  they  have  always  in  its  simplicity  maintained  it. 
Their  history  is  a  portion  of  the  history  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  One  of  their  earliest  historians,  using 
the  records  and  traditions  of  his  peojile,  says,  "The 
Waldenses  are  descended  from  those  refugees  who, 
after  Saint  Paul  had  preached  to  them  the  gospel, 
abandoned  their  beautiful  country  and  fled,  like  the 
woman  mentioned  in  the  Apocalypse,  to  these  wild 
mountains,  where  they  have  to  this  day  handed  down 
the  gospel  from  father  to  son  in  the  same  j^urity  and 
simj)licity  as  it  was  preached  to  them."  In  1530  pas- 
tors of  the  AValdenses  wrote  to  the  reformers  who  were 
just  coming  forth  from  the  corruptions  of  Anti- 
Christian  Rome  to  their  ancient  faith  :  "  That  you  may 
at  once  understand  the  matter,  we  are  a  sort  of  teachers 
of  a  certain  necessitous  and  small  people,  who  already, 
for  more  than  four  hundred  years, — nay,  as  those  of 


8  PRESBYTEEIAN   CHURCH. 

our  country  frequently  relate,  from  the  times  of  the 
apostles, — have  sojourned  among  the  most  cruel  thorns, 
yet,  as  all  the  pious  have  easily  judged,  not  mthout 
great  favor  of  Christ." 

In  the  seventh  century  the  Waldenses  Avere  found 
residing  in  the  valleys  of  Piedmont,  holding  fast  the 
doctrines  of  the  New  Testament. 

It  seems  now  'a  settled  question  that  these  Christians 
did  not  derive  their  name  from  Peter  Waldas,  who  in 
the  twelfth  century  was  one  of  their  most  distinguished 
brethren,  but  from  the  word  Wald,  meaning  valley,  as 
they  were  God's  "  hidden  ones,"  shut  up  in  the  valleys 
of  a  wild,  and,  in  early  times,  nearly  inaccessible  moun- 
tain region.  Waldus  was  a  pious  merchant  of  Lyons, 
who  caused  the  Gospels  and  other  portions  of  the  Bible 
to  be  translated  into  French,  and  encourasred  the  circu- 
lation  of  them  with  all  ardor  and  at  great  expenditure. 
In  1180,  he  became  a  preacher,  and  with  companions  of 
like  faith  and  courage  sought,  by  publishing  the  truth, 
to  stem  the  current  of  iniquity  which,  by  the  influence 
of  the  po23es,  cardinals,  and  priests  of  the  Romish 
church,  was  spreading  over  Europe.  These  Waldenses 
held  and  tauo^ht  that  God  alone  can  forc^ive  sins,  that 
prayers  and  rites  for  the  dead  are  useless,  and  that  the 
teachings  of  Christ  must  guide  and  control  his  chui-ches. 
Throughout  the  twelfth  century  the  Waldensians  were 
noted  for  the  purity  of  their  lives,  and  the  faithfulness 
with  which  they  performed  every  religious  duty. 

The  Albigenses,  deriving  their  name  from  the  town 
of  Albi  in  Aquitania,  where  they  were  condemned  in  a 
Romish  council  held  a.d.  1176,  traced  back  also  their 
possession  of  Christian  doctrines  to  very  eai'ly  times, 


THROWN  PBOM  PRECIPICES.— A  PICTURE  TAKEN  AT  TUE   TIME    (1C55-1665). 


EARLIEST   TIMES.  11 

and  rejected  firmly  and  constantly  tlie  numerous  errors 
of  the  Papacy,  although  they  did  not  retain  Scripture 
truth  in  the  purity  which  belongs  to  the  faith  of  the 
Waldenses,  and  hence  were  not,  like  them,  continued  by 
God's  providence  in  the  possession  of  a  distinct  existence 
as  a  people.  Against  both  the  Albigenses  and  the 
Waldenses  the  corrupt  Romish  power  directed  its  per- 
secuting warfare,  increasing  year  by  year  its  cruel  vio- 
lence. But  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  became  the  seed 
of  the  church,  and,  notwithstanding  the  purpose  of  their 
adversaries  to  destroy  them  utterly,  they  grew  in  num-- 
bers  and  in  influence,  and  seemed  likely  to  spread  abroad 
their  pure  and  primitive  Christianity  to  all  portions  of 
Europe.  Accordingly  Rome  organized  a  plan  to  crush 
them  out  at  once  and  forever. 

In  1163,  Pope  Alexander  III.,  a  man  proud,  vindictive, 
avaricious,  despotic,  and  cruel,  called  a  council  to  be  held 
at  Tours,  in  the  west  of  France  on  the  liver  Loire,  on 
May  29th,  at  which  almost  all  the  bishops  of  France  and 
England  were  present.  At  this  council  all  the  bishops 
and  priests  in  the  country  of  Toulouse,  where  these 
primitive  Christians  were  numerous,  were  commanded  to 
take  care  and  to  forbid,  under  pain  of  excommunication, 
every  person  from  presuming  to  give  reception,  or  the 
least  assistance  to  the  followers  of  this  heresy  wherever 
they  should  be  discovered.  Neither  were  they  to  have 
any  dealings  with  them  in  buying  or  selling,  and  they 
were  to  punish  them  by  the  loss  of  their  goods  and 
other  penalties,  as  though  guilty  of  high  treason.  From 
this  time  through  four  centuries  the  j^opes  and  their 
cruel  instruments  waged  a  dreadful  war  with  the  Albi- 
genses and  Waldenses  in  all  the  cities  and  towns  where 


12  PEE8BTTEEIAN    CHURCH. 

they  could  be  discovered,  in  the  smaller  places,  and 
finally  in  the  lovely  valleys  and  through  the  mountain 
fastnesses  where  they  made  their  last  refuge.  Often 
the  papal  legions,  led  by  the  inquisitors,  swept  over  the 
beautiful  territories  where  they  dwelt,  and  drove  the 
people  from  the  blazing  villages  to  hide  in  caves  on  the 
mountains,  and  almost  to  browse  with  the  chamois  on 
the  wild  herbage  of  the  wintry  rocks. 

Innocent  III.,  who  became  pope  in  1198,  a  few  days 
afterwards  sent  forth  two  travelling  inquisitors,  friars 
•by  the  name  of  Rayner  and  Guy,  giving  them  authority, 
to  quote  his  words :  "  to  catch  and  kill  those  little 
foxes,  the  Waldenses  "  and  their  adherents, — "  foxes  of 
diverse  faces,  but  with  tails  tied  together  by  a  cord  of 
common  heresy,  and  sent  by  Satan  with  firebrands  of 
destruction  into  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts." 

In  1215,  Innocent  III.  called  and  presided  over  the 
Fourth  Council  of  the  Lateran,  so  named  from  the 
church  of  the  Lateran,  the  place  where  it  was  held, 
and  in  which  the  popes  are  crowned.  There  were 
present  at  this  council  four  hundred  and  twelve  bishops, 
who  laid  down  regulations  to  destroy  the  Albigenses 
and  all  heretics,  imposing  upon  them  ex-communication 
and  confiscation  of  their  estates.  They  must  also  be 
given  to  the  secular  authorities,  and  these  are  charged 
to  rid  their  laud  of  them.  The  penalty  of  infamTj  was 
also  denounced  upon  all  who  should  resist  the  decisions 
of  this  council.  Such  persons  were  declared  incapable 
of  holding  any  public  oflice,  of  exercising  any  right  of 
suffrage,  bequeathing  property,  or  having  successors  to 
their  estates.  In  distress  none  must  show  them  any 
charity,  and  after  death,  no  one  umst  give  them  Chris- 


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VAUDOIS  WOMEN  BURIED  AilVE  — ITIOM  A  CONTEMPORARY  ENGRAVlNa 


EARLIEST   TIMES. 


15 


lian  burial.  We  may  date  the  formation  of  the  first 
regular  Inquisition  from  this  council,  for  it  ordered 
every  archbishop  and  each  bishop  to  visit  his  "  parish  " 
yearly,  "  to  make  inquisition  for  heretics  and  conventicles, 
to  summon  all  suspected  persons,  whom,  if  they  find 
guilty,  they  shall  punish." 

To  this  council,  Foulques, 
the  Bishop  of  Toulouse,  v^^ho 
had  been  especially  severe  in 
the  persecution  of  the  poor 
faithful  Christians  of  his 
diocese,  brought  a  Spaniard, 
forty -five  years  of  age,  named 
Domingo  de  Guzman,  who 
has  usually  been  known  as 
the  author  of  the  terrible 
institution  for  the  supj)res- 
sion  of  those  opposed  to  the 
Romish  papacy,  called  The 
Inquisition.  His  admirers 
have  canonized  him  under 
the  name  of  Saint  Dominic.  His  mother,  Juan  a,  lief  ore 
he  was  born,  dreamed  that  she  gave  biith  to  a  dog  who 
carried  in  his  mouth  a  burning  brand  to  set  the  world  on 
fire.  The  boy  showed  a  flaming  zeal,  and,  after  having 
become  a  priest,  and  accompanying  his  bishop  on  an  in- 
quisitorial expedition  into  France,  dealt  fearf-ully  with 
all  who  believed  and  practised  the  simple  teachings  of 
our  Saviour.  Previous  to  his  entrance  upon  the  bloody 
work  of  his  cruel  life,  these  humble  Christians  in  the 
south  of  France  and  in  the  north  of  Italy  had  l^een  ter- 
ribly afflicted ;  but  there  was  no  regular  plan  for  their 


Banner  of  the  Inquisition. 


16  PRESBYTERIAN   CnURCH. 

examination  and  destruction  by  torture.  The  world  has 
sickened  with  horror  at  the  plain  story  of  their  terrible 
sufferings.  Multitudes  were  seized  in  their  quiet  homes, 
dragged  to  some  public  place,  and  burned  with  fagots. 
Some  were  hacked  to  pieces  mth  sabres,  and  their 
wounds  filled  with  quicksilver;  others  died  amid  the 
fumes  of  brimstone  matches  fastened  to  the  lips,  the 
nostrils,  and  every  part  of  the  body.  The  mouths  of 
others  were  filled  with  gunpowder  and  their  heads 
blown  to  atoms  by  its  explosion.  The  poor  women,  in 
the  remoter  villages,  were  forced  to  bring  fagots  upon 
their  backs,  and  to  pile  them  up  around  the  scorching 
bodies  of  their  own  beloved  religious  teachers.  From 
the  lofty  crags  and  precipices  near  their  humble  dwell- 
ings, others  were  thrown  down,  to  fall  hundreds  of 
feet  through  the  air,  and  to  be  dashed  in  pieces 
upon  the  rocks  beneath.  Pious  females  were 
taken  from  their  beds  and  buried  alive  in  graves  dug 
before  their  eyes  by  pitiless  soldiers,  who  made  sport 
of  their  death  agonies,  and  trampled  them  down  into 
their  narrow  tombs,  and  then  covered  them  over  with 
soil  mixed  with  stones  and  snow.  Children  were  cut  in 
pieces,  and  often  torn  apart  by  strong  bigots  who 
drowned  their  shrieks  of  agony  with  brutal  shouts  and 
laughter.  Many  were  impaled,  and,  with  a  sharp  pole" 
thrust  througli  their  bodies,  were  left  to  be  the  prey  of 
vultures,  or,  laid  across  forked  stakes,  were  slowly 
roasted  to  death.  Ovens  were  constructed,  like  lime- 
kilns in  shape,  and,  having  been  filled  with  flaming 
combustibles,  into  these  were  thrown  a  wretched  mass 
of  struggling  men  and  women  and  children,  their  cloth- 
ing first  stripped  from  them,  and  parted  among  merci- 


BLAZING  OVENS  FILLED  WITH  VAUUOI3    (1655-1085). 


EARLIEST    TIMES.      ■  19 

less  executioners,  by  lot,  as  was  the  clotliing  of  their 
Redeemer. 

The  descendants  of  these  persecuted  Christians  hailed 
the  first  dawning  of  the  Reformation.  Living  remote 
from  other  branches  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  the 
valleys  of  Piedmont,  but  near  to  their  brethren  of  the 
French  cities  and  to  Geneva,  they  grew  in  sympathy 
with  these.  In  a  council  at  Angrogna,  in  1532,  they 
adopted  a  confession  of  faith  embracing  in  substance 
the  doctrines  they  had  for  centuries  maintained,  and 
also  took  measures  to  procure  an  impression  of  the  whole 
Bible  in  their  native  language,  and  to  supply  their 
people  with  other  religious  books.  A  century  later  they 
suffered  grievous  persecutions,  and  their  laud  was  dev- 
astated with  fire  and  sword.  In  consequence  of  these 
severe  trials,  multitudes  of  them  emigrated  to  other 
countries,  and  carried  mth  them  the  truth  of  the  Gospel, 
which  they  communicated  to  all  around  them. 

The  Albigenses  were  joined  with  the  Waldenses 
through  several  centuries  in  the  simplicity  of  their 
faith  in  the  Gospel,  in  their  conscientious  obedience  to 
its  teachings,  and  in  the  persecutions  to  which  their 
love  for  it  subjected  them,  although,  as  has  been  re- 
marked, errors  of  doctrine  crept  in  among  them  that 
hindered  their  usefulness,  and  caused  their  decline.  The 
Waldenses  still  survive,  vigorous  and  useful.  With  a 
well-appointed  Theological  Seminary,  in  primitive  zeal 
they  have  extended  their  operations  into  Italy,  and  are 
faithfully  winning  souls  to  the  service  of  their  Master. 


CHAPTER   II. 

TIIE    PRESBYTERIAN  CnUECH   IN    SCOTLAOT). 

The  more  research  opens  up  the  fountains  of  the  his- 
tory of  Evangelical  religion  in  the  British  isles,  the 
more  evident  it  is  that  Primitive  Christianity  was  born 
and  flourished  there  long  before  the  Roman  ChurcL 
sent  thithej  its  missionaries.  Tertullian  tells  us  that  in 
his  day,  tne  third  century,  "  those  parts  of  Britain 
which  were  inaccessible  to  the  Romans,  had  become 
subject  to  Christ."  Rather  from  an  eastern  and  Greek 
source,  than  fi'om  a  western  and  Latin  origin,  had  the 
seeds  of  the  Christian  religion  been  planted  even  as 
far  as  the  mountains  of  Caledonia  l^efore  the  close  of 
the  second  century. 

Scotland  was  so  remote  from  Rome,  and,  in  the 
Providence  of  God,  so  little  effort  was  made  to 
introduce  within  its  bounds  the  corruptions  of  the 
Romish  anti-Christian  church,  that  its  earliest  traces 
of  religious  faith  and  order  are  unmistakably  and  dis- 
tinctively Presbyterian.  There  these  principles  were 
ever  maintained  and  defended :  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
is  the  only  head  and  king  of  the  cluirch.  Its  govern- 
ment is  derived  from  Him  alone,  and  is  distinct  from, 
and  not  subordinate  in  its  own  province  to  the  civil 
magistrate. 

At  a  very  early  period  the  Culdees  lield  their  chief 
seat  at  the  island  of  lona,  and  maintained  a  church 
order,  doctrines,  and  worsliip  of  primitive  simplicity 


POFB  PIUS  IV.  AND  III3  CARDINALS  WITNKSSINQ  TUB  DEATU  OP  PASCHAL  —FROM  AN  ANCIENT  KNQRAVINa. 


SCOTLAND.  23 

tliroiiglioufc  Scotland.  The  Culdees  derived  tlieir  name 
from  Gaelic  words  that  signify,  "  Those  who  worship 
God  in  retired  places."  Columba  is  said  to  have 
founded  at  lona,  an  island  west  of  Scotland,  in  the 
year  a.d.  563,  a  regular  presbytery,  with  a  president, 
called  by  "  the  Venerable  Bede "  the  "  Presbyter 
Abbot."  The  presbyters  were  twelve  in  number. 
They  resided  permanently  at  lona,  regarded  their 
president  as  only  "the  first  among  equals,"  established 
a  seminary  for  the  education  of  ministers,  and  propa- 
gated Christianity  among  the  people  around  them. 
These  godly  men  with  their  successors,  from  a.d.  563, 
for  a  long  series  of  years  maintained  a  Theological 
Seminary,  as  it  would  be  called  in  our  days,  and  fur- 
nished the  model  for  numerous  other  similar  organiza- 
tions. Their  establishments  in  various  other  portions 
of  Scotland  difEused  the  truth  widely.  Devastating 
wars  with  the  Saxons  subsequently  proved  injurious 
to  the  cause  of  religion  in  Scotland ;  but  with  the  re- 
turn of  peace  not  only  was  the  faith  of  the  Culdees 
widely  extended  within  its  boundaries,  but  they  became 
missionaries  among  those  who  lived  beyond  the  south- 
ern border.  The  coming  of  Augustine  the  monk,  vnth 
forty  associates,  sent  by  Pope  Gregory  the  Great,  was 
the  commencement  of  the  corruption  and  tyranny  of 
the  Romish  Church  in  Britain.  The  Culdees  were 
driven  from  England.  Contests  between  the  Picts  and 
Scots  succeeded,  and  they  suffered  still  more.  In  801, 
amid  the  invasions  of  the  Northmen  who  then  ravaged 
their  coast,  their  establishment  at  lona  was  burned. 
About  seventy  years  later,  during  a  similar  incursion, 
those  who  had  returned  thither  fled  to  Ireland,  carry- 


24  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

ing  witli  them  tlie  remains  of  Columba.  The  perils 
and  sufEe rings  of  the  Culdees  continued  through  suc- 
cessive years,  until  toward  the  close  of  the  thirteenth 
centuiy,  when  they  were  suppressed  by  papal  fraud 
and  tyranny.  They  and  their  followers  represented 
the  primitive,  evangelical  presbyterian  church  of  Scot- 
land. There  is  not  one  of  the  unscrii^tural  dogmas  of 
the  Romish  church  that  they  did  not  reject,  and,  in  the 
simplicity  of  theii*  presbyterial  form  of  government, 
and  the  doctrines  they  adopted  and  defended,  they 
were  reformers  before  the  Eeformation.  Though,  as 
an  organized  church,  they  were  scattered,  they  planted 
good  seed  throughout  Scotland,  Ireland,  England,  and 
Wales,  that  still  bears  fruit. 

When  the  tyranny  of  Rome  gained  a  footing  in 
Britain,  the  Culdees,  and  the  numerous  churches  that 
they  had  organized,  were  fearfully  persecuted,  and 
many  of  their  hearers  with  their  pastors  were  put  to 
death,  or  driven  to  take  refuge  in  other  regions,  as  in 
the  mountains  of  Wales,  and  the  far  northern  and 
western  districts  of  Scotland.  Yet  though  theii*  name 
was  forgotten,  their  doctrines  were .  abiding,  and  many 
cherished  them  until  the  daybreak  of  the  Reformation. 
Research  shows  us  in  what  respect  these  teachings  dif- 
fered from  those  of  the  Romish  Church.  They  re- 
jected auricular  confession,  penance,  authoritative  ab- 
solution, transubstantiatiou,  the  idolatrous  worship  of 
angels,  saints,  and  relics,  praying  to  saints  for  their  in- 
tercession, prayers  for  the  dead,  works  of  supereroga- 
tion, on  these  and  other  essential  points  holding  fast 
to  the  piire  teachings  of  the  Scriptures. 

In  1407  John  Resby,  an  Englishman,  and  a  scholar 


SCOTLAND.  25 

of  Wickliffe,  was  burned  for  declaring  that  the  pope  is 
not  the  vicar  of  Christ,  and  that  no  man  of  a  wicked 
life  ought  to  be  acknowledged  as  a  religious  ruler. 
Twenty-five  years  afterwards  Paul  Craw,  a  Bohemian 
follower  of  Huss,  convicted  of  denying  the  doctrines  of 
transubstantiation,  auricular  confession,  and  praying  to 
saints,  was  burned  at  St.  Andrews.  And  that  he  might 
not  preach  the  truth  at  the  stake  a  ball  of  brass  was 
forced  into  his  mouth  by  his  cruel  murderers.  These 
and  other  similar  attempts  to  crush  out  the  truth  had 
an  eif  ect  quite  the  opposite  of  what  was  intended  ;  and, 
to  hinder  its  further  spread,  James  IV.  summoned  be- 
fore the  great  council  in  1594  about  thirty  persons, 
men  and  women,  called  in  derision  "  the  Lollards  of 
Kyle."  Adam  Eeid,  one  of  their  number,  answered 
their  adversaries  with  such  spirit  and  humor,  and  so 
baffled  the  accusing  bishop,  as  greatly  to  please  the 
king  who  presided,  and  they  were  dismissed  with  an 
admonition. 

The  next  prominent  victim  was  Patrick  Hamilton,  a 
youth  of  royal  birth,  commanding  abilities,  and  ardent 
piety.  In  1526  he  visited  the  continent,  at  Wittemberg 
enjoyed  the  friendship  of  Luther  and  Melancthon,  and 
at  the  University  of  Marburg  was  taught  by  Francis' 
Lambert.  Returning  to  Scotland,  he  began  to  preach 
with  wonderful  popularity  and  success.  His  sermons 
were  heard  with  deep  attention,  and  his  influence  grew 
day  by  day.  The  priests  resolved  to  slay  him,  and  lest 
the  king,  his  relative,  should  hinder  their  plans,  they 
decoyed  him  to  St.  Andrews,  where  a  prior,  pretending 
to  agree  with  him,  drew  from  him  an  avowal  of  his 
opinions  in  such  terms  as  to  secure  his  condemnation 


26  PRESBYTERIAN    CHTJECH. 

for  heresy  before  a  tribunal  of  dignitaries  of  tlie  Rom- 
ish Church.  Arrangements  were  at  once  made  to  put 
him  to  death.  Before  the  College  of  St.  Salvador  they 
built  a  pile,  and  bound  Hamilton  to  the  stake  on  Feb- 
ruary 28th,  1528.  A  train  of  gunpowder,  laid  to  set 
fire  to  the  fagots,  exploded  in  such  a  way  as  to  scorch 
the  side  and  face  of  the  martyr.  While  other  combus- 
tibles were  sent  for  he  calmly  exhorted  the  spectators, 
and,  when  the  flames  at  leno-th  surrounded  him,  he  ex- 
claimed  :  "  How  long,  O  Lord,  shall  darkness  cover  this 
realm?  How  long  wilt  thou  sufEer  this  tyranny  of 
man  ?     Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit !  "  and  fell  asleep. 

This  death  awakened  all  Scotland  to  search  into  the 
doctrines  for  the  defence  of  which  Hamilton  was  slain, 
and  they  spread  rapidly.  Shortly  after,  Alexander 
Seaton,  a  Dominican  friar,  confessor  to  the  king, 
preached  faith  in  Christ  boldly  and  eloquently,  and, 
when  compelled  to  leave  his  house  to  escape  secret 
machinations,  he  wrote  to  the  king  a  letter  in  which  he 
proves  it  to  be  the  duty  of  magistrates  to  secure  to 
every  accused  person  a  just  defence.  For  holding  to 
the  pure  doctrines  of  God's  word,  in  1534  and  1588, 
several  brave  and  learned  men  were  burned,  crowds  of 
sympathizers  looking  on,  and  cherishing  their  last  heroic 
recommendations  of  the  truth.  The  death  of  James  V., 
in  1542,  a  king  who  weakly  yielded  to  the  wishes  of  the 
persecutors,  relieved  the  faithful  believers  from  peril, 
and  copies  of  the  Bible,  which  had  been  secretly  read 
before,  were  now  seen  on  every  table,  and  the  Ne^v 
Testament  was  borne  about  in  nearly  every  person's  hand. 

The  regent,  Arran,  reigning  as  guardian  for  the  in- 
fant "Mary  of  Scots,"  was,  however,  a  fickle  man,  and 


SCOTLAND.  27 

soon  became  the  tool  of  tlie  popish  faction.  Then  came 
more  bloody  scenes.  In  1543,  at  Perth,  five  men  and 
one  woman  were  tried  for  heresy.  The  men  were 
hanged,  the  woman  was  drowned.  In  other  places 
similar  executions  occm-red.  Cardinal  Beaton,  who  had 
succeeded  as  archbishop  his  persecuting  uncle,  was 
specially  the  instrument  of  these  cruel  outrages,  and  re- 
solving to  exterminate  the  teachers  of  evangelical  truth, 
he  caused  many  others  to  be  slain.  Soon  after  he  sum- 
moned to  trial  George  Wishart,  a  distinguished  scholar 
and  preacher  of  noble  birth,  greatly  beloved  for  the 
unction  and  winning  sweetness  of  his  ministrations. 
Besides  his  distinction  as  a  public  man  he  was  remark- 
able in  private  life  as  a  most  mild,  gentle,  patient,  and 
amiable  Christian.  Driven  at  the  instigation  of  the 
archbishop  from  Dundee  to  Ayrshire,  and  thence  to 
Edinburgh,  he  was  waylaid  while  travelling,  hurried  to 
the  Abbey  church  of  St.  Andrews,  and,  after  a  sermon 
against  heresy  by  the  su])-2:>rior,  was  condemned  by 
Beaton  to  be  burned  on  the  next  day.  His  burning 
took  place  in  full  view  of  the  cardinal's  window. 
Wishart  was  led  to  the  stake  with  bags  of  gunpowder 
tied  to  various  parts  of  his  body,  with  his  hands  bound 
behind  his  back,  a  rope  round  his  neck,  and  an  iron 
chain  about  his  waist.  Meekly  kissing  his  execution- 
er, praying  for  his  enemies,  and  exhorting  all  about 
him  to  receive  salvation  throus^h  the  blood  of  Christ,  at 
the  sounding  of  a  trumpet  fire  was  applied  to  the  pile 
around  him.  While  the  gunpowder  exploded  his  suf- 
ferings were  not  at  an  end,  and,  when  the  captain  of 
the  soldiers  came  near  and  addressed  him,  Wishart  re- 
plied, "  This  fire  torments  my  body,  but  no  way  abates 


28  PRESBYTEEIAN   CllUP.Cn. 

my  spirit."  Then,  looking  toward  the  cardinal,  he  said, 
"  lie  who  in  such  state  from  that  high  place  feedeth 
his  eyes  with  my  torments,  within  few  days  shall  be 
hanged  out  of  the  same  window,  to  be  seen  with  as 
much  ignominy  as  he  now  leaneth  there  in  pride." 
After  these  words  the  rope  about  his  neck  was  tight- 
ened, and  he  soon  expired.  This  was  on  March  2, 1546, 
and  on  the  29th  of  the  following  May  the  cardinal  was' 
slain  by  conspirators,  and,  to  allay  a  tumult  arising  from 
a  demand  of  the  people  about  his  castle  to  know  whether 
he  were  dead,  his  lifeless  body  was  exposed  from  the 
same  window  over  the  same  part  of  the  battlements, 
where  the  cardinal  had,  a  short  time  before,  reclined  so 
proudly  as  a  witness  of  Wishart's  martyrdom. 

Meantime  a  young  man  was,  under  the  direction  of 
God's  Providence,  growing  up  into  usefulness  and  in- 
fluence, who  was  destined  to  become  the  greatest  Scot- 
tish Reformer. 

John  Knox  was  born  in  1505,  in  the  village  of  Gifford, 
in  East  Lothian.  With  a  liberal  education,  we  find  him, 
during  the  persecution  of  Wishart,  in  the  position  of  a 
private  tutor,  teaching  to  his 
pupils  the  classics,  and,  by  daily 
exercising  them  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  in  catechisms  of 
Bible  doctrine,  training  his  own 
mind  and  theirs  to  shun  all  error. 
In  peril  for  conscience  sake,  he 
with  his  pupils  took  refuge  in 
the  castle  of  St.  Andrews,  under 
the  protection  of  nobles  espous- 
ing the  reformed  faith.     John 


SCOTLAND.  29 

Rough,  preacher  to  the  garrison,  asked  that  Knox  might 
be  his  colleague,  and,  by  his  persuasion,  and  that  of  the 
congregation,  Knox  accepted  the  trust,  and  preached 
so  earnestly  that  it  was  said  of  him  :  "  Others  hewed  the 
branches  of  the  papistry,  but  he  struck  at  the  root." 

By  the  assistance  of  a  fleet  from  France,  the  castle  of 
St.  Andrews  was  invested,  and,  after  a  brave  resistance, 
its  besieged  forces  capitulated.  John  Knox  was  taken 
prisoner,  was  put  in  chains,  Avas  confined  as  a  galley 
slave.  During  the  second  year  of  this  captivity,  the 
galley  on  which  he  was  borne  was  anchored  near  St. 
Andrews,  and  he  Avas  asked  if  he  knew  the  place. 
"  Yes,"  he  replied,  "  I  know  it  well ;  for  I  see  the  stee- 
ple of  that  place  where  God  first  opened  my  mouth  in 
public  to  His  glory  ;  and  I  am  fully  persuaded,  how 
weak  soever  I  now  appear,  that  I  shall  not  depart  this 
life,  till  that  my  tongue  shall  glorify  His  godty  name  in 
the  same  place."  Sir  James  Balfoui*,  to  v^diom  these 
prophetic  words  were  said,  often  repeated  them  previ- 
ous to  the  time  when  Knox  returned  to  Scotland. 

After  a  tedious  and  severe  imprisonment  of  nineteen 
months,  Knox  obtained  his  liberty,  and  remained  five 
years  in  England,  preaching,  studying,  attracting  the 
regard  of  Edward  VI.,  who  desired  him  to  become  a 
bishop,  and  preparing  for  his  future  triumphs.  When 
"  Bloody  Mary  "  succeeded  to  the  throne,  Knox,  com- 
pelled to  flee  fi'om  England,  visited  France,  Switzer- 
land, and  Germany.  Meeting  the  other  great  Reform- 
ers, he  became  still  more  firmly  grounded  in  the  knowl- 
edge and  love  of  God's  truth.  Especially  did  he  gain 
advantage  from  his  intercourse  and  fiiendship  with 
John  Calvin. 


80  PEESBYTEEIAN   CnUECH. 

In  1555  be  returned  again  to  his  native  land,  visiting 
numerous  brethren  who  Avere  confirmed  by  his  preach- 
ing, and  whom  he  assisted  to  rebuild  upon  broad  and 
sound  foundations  the  ecclesiastical  system  which  has 
brought  so  many  blessings  to  Scotland.  In  1556  he 
was  invited  to  return  to  Geneva  as  pastor,  and,  accept- 
ing the  call,  he  had  no  sooner  gone  than  he  was  sum- 
moned as  a  heretic  by  the  priests,  condemned,  and 
burned  in  efiagy  at  the  market  cross  of  Edinburgh. 
This  act  did  not,  however,  deter  a  number  of  reformed 
preachers  from  setting  forth  the  Gospel  in  various  cities 
and  towns. 

In  Geneva  John  Knox  occupied  himself  for  two 
years  Avith  the  care  of  the  English  congregation,  in 
study,  and  in  labors  upon  the  Geneva  Bible.  But 
Scotland  needed .  his  heroic  efforts,  and,  by  the  invita- 
tion of  certain  noblemen,  he  returned  thither  suddenly, 
and  to  the  consternation  of  his  opposers.  Previously, 
in  1557,  a  number  of  the  most  trusted  and  influential 
nobles  had  signed  what  is  known  as  The  Fiest  Coat:- 
NANT,  in  which  they  pledged  themselves  to  maintain, 
set  forward,  and  establish  the  most  blessed  word  of 
God  and  his  congregation ;  and  to  labor  to  have  faith- 
ful ministers,  purely  and  truly  to  minister  Christ's 
Gospel  and  sacraments  to  his  people.  Aided  by  the 
ruling  powers  of  the  nation,  their  foes  had  summoned 
many  of  the  brethren  who  adopted  and  maintained  the 
principles  of  this  Covenant  to  trial  Knox,  staying  but 
one  day  in  Edinburgh,  resolved  to  share  their  fate,  and 
hastened  to  Dundee  to  join  them.  Together  they  went 
to  Perth,  where  he  preached  against  the  worship  of 
images.     After  his  sermon,  a  foolish  priest,  exhibiting 


SCOTLAND.  31 

a  ricli  altar-piece,  covered  with  images,  and  celebrating 
mass,  so  irritated  the  common  people  that  a  riot  ensued, 
in  which  the  images,  and  monasteries  of  the  town  alike, 
were  demolished.  Although  Knox  expected  no  such 
incidents,  they  sufficiently  showed  his  influence  with  all 
classes.  Keturning  to  St.  Andrews,  he  pi'eached  in  the 
Cathedral,  in  defiance  of  the  Archbishop,  on  the  duty 
of  all  Christians  to  remove  the  corruptions  of  the 
Papacy,  and  to  purify  the  church.  For  three  days  he 
presented  the  truth  with  such  effect  that  the  magis- 
trates and  people  set  up  the  Reformed  religion  in  the 
town,  stripped  the  church  of  images  and  pictures,  and 
demolished  the  monasteries.  Very  soon  after,  Knox, 
as  pastor  of  old  St.  Giles,  was  wielding  the  fire  and 
hammer  of  God's  word,  to  the  discomfiture  of  his  foes, 
and  the  full  establishment  of  the  Presbyterian  Organ- 
ization in  his  dear  Scotland. 

In  1561  the  youthful  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  arrived 
from  France.  Educated  there  as  a  Roman  Catholic, 
petted  and  praised  for  her  beauty,  fond  of  gallantry 
and  the  amusements  of  a  luxurious  court,  prejudiced  as 
to  the  strength  of  the  royal  prerogative,  and  deeming 
it  her  appointed  work  to  overthrow  throughout  Scot- 
land the  opposers  of  the  Papacy,  no  one  need  wonder 
that  she  found  herself  at  once  engaged  in  sharp  con- 
flicts with  those  whose  consciences  and  principles  were 
on  the  side  of  Bible  truth. 

As  their  acknowledged  leader,  Knox  was  five  times 
summoned  to  the  Queen's  presence,  and  there  courte- 
ously yet  firmly  told  Mary  to  her  face  what  was  her 
duty  as  a  sovereign,  and  what  were  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  the  people.     The  Queen  and  her  courtiers 


32  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

sought  after  these  interviews  to  silence  the  reformer,  and 
not  long  afterwards  they  congratulated  themselves  on 
bringing  him  to  trial  as  a  traitor.  During  the  Queen's 
absence  from  Holyrood  House,  Popish  worship  had 
been  celebrated  with  the  revival  of  numerous  supersti- 
tious practices,  appai'ently  to  provoke  the  evangelical 
party.  Some  of  the  latter  entered  the  church  and  pro- 
tested against  the  unusual  services.  For  this  conduct 
they  were  indicted,  charged  with  "  felony  and  invasion 
of  the  palace."  Knox  was  requested  to  write  a  circular 
letter  to  several  gentlemen,  who  were  their  friends,  and 
request  their  presence  on  the  day  of  their  trial.  This 
letter  was  made  the  ground  of  an  accusation  of  treason 
against  John  Knox,  but  when  his  cause  was  heard  be- 
fore the  nobles.  Queen  Mary  presiding,  the  nobles  ab- 
solved him  from  all  offence,  and  praised  his  modest 
appearance  and  the  judicious  manner  in  which  he  had 
conducted  his  defence. 

The  first  General  Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land met  in  Edinburgh  on  the  twentieth  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1560.  It  consisted  of  forty  members,  only  six  of 
whom  were  ministers.  The  Confession  of  Faith,  com- 
posed by  John  Knox  and  other  eminent  divines  a  few 
months  previously,  -was  recommended  to  the  churches^ 
and  the  same  authors  were  appointed  to  prepare  a  book 
of  discipline  and  ecclesiastical  government.  In  January 
this  book  was  approved  by  the  Assembly.  Its  provi- 
sions are  those  of  Holy  Scripture.  Church  government 
was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  pa^toi*  and  the  Session. 
Presbyteries,  Provincial  Synods,  and  a  General  Assem- 
bly were  the  courts  above  the  Session.  Four  orders  of 
permanent   officers   were   recognized    in    the    church, 


JOHN  lUiOX'S  U0U8B. 


SCOTLAND.  35 

namely,  the  pastor,  the  teacher  of  theology,  the  ruling 
elder,  and  the  deacon.  Besides  these,  permission  was 
given  to  temporary  officers,  as  superintendents  and  ex- 
horters,  to  labor  for  the  edification  of  each  congrega- 
tion. 

The  Second  General  Assembly  was  held  at  Edin- 
burgh, May  27,  1561.  It  ratified  the  Confession  of 
Faith  and  Book  of  Discipline,  and  recommended  them 
to  all  the  people.  The  first  moderator  of  a  General 
Assembly  in  Scotland  was  John  Willock,  appointed  by 
the  Assembly  of  1563.  Troublous  and  sad  times  fol- 
lowed. The  history  of  religious  affairs  involves  the 
opposition  of  Queen  Mary's  court  to  the  progress  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  her  successive  marriages,  misfort- 
unes, imprisonment,  and  death.  Then  followed  the 
regency  of  Earl  Murray,  a  Christian  statesman  and  a 
friend  to  true  religion.  Knox  preaches  in  December, 
1567,  at  the  opening  of  Parliament,  exhorting  the  rulers 
to  begin  with  the  affairs  of  religion  if  they  would  se- 
cure success,  and  the  Parliament  acts  wisely  upon  this 
counsel.  The  reformed  church  is  recognized  as  the 
only  national  church,  and  enters  upon  a  career  of  spir- 
itual j)rosperity,  growing  in  the  number  of  ministers 
and  congregations,  and  diffusing  on  every  side  the  bless- 
ings of  a  pure  Gospel.  An  event  full  of  disaster  to 
the  country  occurred  in  1570.  The  malice  of  the 
priests  against  the  regent  found  an  assassin  in  Hamil- 
ton, nephew  to  the  Archbishop  of  St.  Andrews.  Con- 
stantly following  him,  as  Murray  was  passing  through 
a  narrow  street  at  Linlithgow,  Hamilton,  from  the  win- 
dow of  a  room  prepared  for  concealment,  shot  him. 
The  wound  was  fatal,  and  the  death  of  the  good  Mur- 


36  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

ray  proved  a  national  calamity.  After  this  event  tlie 
avaricious  nobles  endeavored  to  obtain  control  of  the 
revenues  of  the  church,  which  should  have  been  applied 
to  the  support  of  religious  and  literary  establishments. 
Though  no  longer  any  part  of  the  National  Church, 
the  Popish  prelates  were  allowed  to  retain  two-thirds 
of  the  revenues  of  the  larger  benefices  during  life.  The 
Earl  of  Morton  devised  a  plan  by  which,  at  their  death, 
the  same  revenues  might  come  into  the  coffers  of  the 
nobles. 

When  Hamilton,  Ai"chbishop  of  St.  Andrews,  died, 
Morton  obtained  a  grant  empowering  him  to  dispose  of 
the  see  and  its  revenues.  He  then  appointed  a  succes- 
sor, with  the  understanding  that  the  pi'incipal  part  of 
the  revenues  should  be  paid  back  to  himself.  The 
other  nobles,  wishing  in  turn  to  avail  themselves  of 
similar  arrangements,  prepared  to  make  Morton's  plan 
universal  in  Scotland.  John  Knox,  too  ill  to  attend 
the  Assembly  of  1571,  in  a  letter  warned  its  members 
of  the  peril,  and  stimulated  tliem  to  resist  such  wicked 
encroachments  of  power.  Soon  afterwards  he  died — 
on  the  24th  of  November,  1572.  Morton,  elected  re- 
gent on  the  same  day,  attended,  with  a  multitude  of 
the  nobility  and  gentry,  and  a  great  concourse  of  peo- 
ple, upon  his  funeral ;  and,  as  the  body  was  lowered 
into  the  grave,  delivered  the  laconic  and  true  eulogium : 
"  There  lies  he  who  never  feared  the  face  of  man." 
But  thougli  he  praised  the  suijlime  devotion  to  Christian 
2)i-inciple  which  Knox  exhibited,  Morton  failed  to  be 
guided  by  it.  He  gained  control  of  the  appointment 
of  the  bishops,  in  spite  of  the  remonstrances  of  the 
Assembly.     Andrew  Melville,  well  known  to  his  coun- 


SCOTLAND.  37 

trvmen  as  a  man  of  learning  and  abilities,  who  had 
spent  much  time  in  Geneva  with  Calvin  and  Beza,  ar- 
rived in  Scotland  in  July,  1574,  after  an  absence  of  ten 
years.  He  aided  his  brethren  to  stand  in  their  contest 
with  the  regent,  and  when  Morton  offered  to  him  the 
post  of  archbishop  as  a  bribe,  he  repelled  him.  Irri- 
tated by  his  opposition  and  that  of  the  Assembly,  Mor- 
ton complained  of  them  as  treasonable  subjects.  Mel- 
ville supported  their  decisions  by  quotations  from  the 
Scriptures.  The  regent,  unable  to  confute  him,  growled 
forth  :  "  There  never  will  be  quietness  in  this  country 
till  half  a  dozen  of  you  be  hanged  or  banished."  Said 
Melville :  "  Threaten  your  courtiers  :  it  is  the  same  to 
me  whether  I  rot  in  the  air  or  in  the  ground.  The 
earth  is  the  Lord's.  My  country  is  wherever  goodness 
is.  Let  God  be  glorified ;  it  will  not  be  in  your  power 
to  hang  or  exile  His  truth." 

On  March  6,  1578,  Morton  resigned  his  regency,  and 
James  became  king.  The  same  year  the  Assembly  per- 
fected its  form  of  Government,  issuing  what  is  known 
as  "  The  Second  Book  of  Discipline."  It  also  agreed 
that  hereafter  the  bishops  should  be  addressed  simply 
as  other  ministers.  A  subsequent  Assembly  abolished 
the  prelatical  office,  and  ratified  what  is  known  as  The 
First  National  Covenant  of  Scotland,  which  forms 
the  first  part  of  every  subsequent  national  Covenant. 
Contests  followed  that  resulted,  in  1592,  in  the  passage 
of  an  act  of  Parliament  by  which  the  General  Assem- 
blies, Synods,  Presbyteries,  and  Sessions  of  the  church, 
with  the  jurisdiction  and  discipline  belonging  to  them, 
were  recognized  and  established  to  secure  the  welfare 
of  the  nation. 


38  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Notwithstanding  this  "charter,"  as  it  has  been  styled, 
King  James,  who  saw  that  an  Episcopal  form  of  gov- 
ernment for  the  church  would  better  serve  to  make 
him,  in  his  own  words,  "  a  free  and  absolute  monarch," 
during  several  subsequent  years  sought  by  force  and 
guile  to  substitute  it.  One  Assembly  after  another  ex- 
perienced his  arbitrary  interference,  until  he  endeavored 
to  suppress  it  entirely. 

In  1605  the  King's  messenger  at  arms  charged  the 
Assembly  at  Aberdeen  to  dismiss,  on  the  pain  of  re- 
bellion; and,  when  James  was  informed  that  it  ad- 
journed again  to  convene,  he  sent  to  prison  fourteen 
eminent  ministers,  including  John  Forbes,  the  moder- 
ator, and  John  Welsh,  son-in-law  of  John  Knox.  Six 
of  the  number,  after  trial,  con^dction,  and  an  imprison- 
ment of  fourteen  months,  were  banished  to  France. 

From  1606  to  1618  the  annals  of  Scotland  teem  with 
the  results  of  royal  knavery  and  prelatic  treachery. 
In  1618  the  Assembly  met  in  the  Little  Kirk  at  Perth. 
Spots  wood,  the  king's  bishop  of  St.  Andrews,  claimed 
the  moderator's  chair,  because  the  Assembly  was  con- 
vened within  his  diocese,  and  introduced  the  dean  of 
Winchester,  who  recommended,  as  the  king's  measure, 
the  adoption  of  the  "  Five  Articles  of  Perth."  These 
were, — kneeling  at  the  communion,  the  observance  of 
holidays,  Episcopal  confirmation,  private  baptism,  and 
the  private  dispensation  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  Spots- 
wood  put  the  vote  in  these  words  :  "  Will  you  consent 
to  these  articles,  or  disobey  the  king  ?  "  Had  none  but 
commissioners  voted,  these  articles  would  have  been 
defeated ;  but  the  usurping  moderator  allowed  nobles 
and  prelates  appoi-nted  by  James  to  be  counted  as  a 


ST.  GILES. CnURCH, 


SCOTLAND.  41 

majority  in  favor  of  the  measure,  and  a  parliament, 
summoned  for  the  purpose,  soon  after  declared  the  five 
articles  to  be  the  law  of  the  land.  Persecution  fol- 
lowed, marking  as  its  victims  all  who  nobly  resisted 
the  power  of  the  temporal  government  to  coerce  the 
courts  of  the  Scottish  church.  Among  those  who  suf- 
fered are  found  the  names  of  John  Welsh,  Robert 
Bruce,  and  William  Forbes.  Then,  after  the  death  of 
King  James,  and  the  accession  of  Charles  I.,  came  the 
"  Book  of  Canons,"  prepared  under  the  revision  of 
Archbishop  Laud,  which  forbade  a  General  Assembly 
unless  called  by  the  King,  and  all  private  "  conventi- 
cles," including  meetings  of  Presbyteries  and  sessions, 
and  which,  not  allowing  a  minister  to  pray,  excejDt  from 
a  book,  arranged  for  fonts,  altars,  ornaments,  vestments, 
and  other  Popish  fooleries.  Soon  after  appeared 
Laud's  "  Liturgy,"  modelled  upon  the  Romish  missal, 
which  the  prelates  at  once  began  to  use,  and  all  minis- 
ters were  required  immediately  to  adopt.  On  July  23, 
1637,  at  the  cathedral  church  of  St.  Giles,  the  dean  of 
Edinburgh,  attired  in  a  surplice,  began  to  read  the  ser- 
vice from  this  liturgy.  The  congregation  seemed 
breathless  with  sorrow  and  alarm,  when  an  old  woman, 
named  Jenny  Geddes,  unable  to  restrain  her  indigna- 
tion, exclaimed :  "  Villain,  dost  thou  say  mass  at  my 
lug  ?  "  and  seizing  the  stool  on  which  she  had  been  sit- 
ting, hurled  it  at  the  dean's  head.  A  riot  resulted,  and 
throughout  the  kingdom  there  was  evidence  that  this 
liturgy  would  not  be  tolerated.  On  the  28th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1638,  a  solemn  covenant  was  signed  at  the 
Greyfriars  Church,  in  Edinburgh,  renewing  the  former 
engagements  of  the  Scottish  people,  "  to  put  away  all 


42  PRESBYTERIAT^    CHURCH. 

idolatry,  superstition,  and  immorality,  and  to  worship 
God  in  simplicity  and  faithfulness,  according  to  His 
word."  An  aged  nobleman,  the  Earl  of  Sutherland, 
first  affixed  his  signature.  One  name  after  another  was 
subscribed,  until  all  within  the  crowded  church  had 
signed.  Then  the  great  parchment  sheet  was  removed 
to  the  church-yard,  and  spread  upon  a  level  gravestone ; 
and  the  vast  multitude  crowded  around  to  sis^n.  Some 
wept  aloud ;  some  joyfully  shouted  ;  some,  after  their 
names,  added  the  words  "  till  death ; "  and  some,  oYten- 
ing  a  vein,  subscribed  with  their  blood.  As  the  space 
became  filled,  they  wrote  their  names  in  a  contracted 
form,  limiting  them  at  last  to  initial  letters,  till  not  a 
spot  remained  on  Avhich  another  letter  could  be  in- 
scribed. The  document  was  then  copied,  and  sent 
throughout  the  city  and  kingdom,  and  universally 
signed. 

In  November,  1638,  the  General  Assembly  met, 
which  annulled  all  former  acts  by  which  Prelacy  had 
been  introduced,  and  passed  an  act  condemning  the 
Five  Articles  of  Perth,  the  Book  of  Canons,  the  Litur- 
gy, and  the  Book  of  Ordination.  The  rights  of  the 
church  were  thus  so  clearly  vindicated,  and  the  sover- 
eignty of  Christ  so  fully  maintained,  that  this  Assem- 
bly has  been  said  to  have  accomplished  Scotland's  Sec- 
ond Reformation. 

King"  Charles,  more  than  ever  resolved  to  destroy  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  prepared  to  invade  Scotland  and 
to  subjugate  those  whose  opposition  deeply  offended 
him.  The  Covenanters  prepared  for  defensive  war. 
They  sent  into  England  a  document  vindicating  their 
past  conduct  and  present  intentions ;  they  appointed  a 


SCOTLAND.  43 

committee  to  sit  at  Edinburgh,  and,  corresponding  with 
subordinate  committees,  to  direct  their  affairs  through- 
out the  kingdom.  With  prompt  and  well-concerted 
measures,  they  possessed  themselves  of  numerous  strong- 
holds, and,  when  Charles  entered  Scotland  with  his 
army,  without  striking  a  blow,  he  found  himself 
obliged  to  make  a  treaty  of  peace,  and  agree  to  submit 
all  ecclesiastical  matters  to  the  next  General  Assembly 
for  settlement.  This  Assembly,  not  less  firmly  than 
the  preceding  one,  maintained  the  cause  of  the  church 
in  opposition  to  the  king's  usurpations,  and  Charles  re- 
solved again  to  raise  an  army  of  invasion.  Funds  for 
this  purpose  being  needed,  he  was  forced  to  call  to- 
gether a  parliament,  which,  before  it  considered  Scot- 
tish affairs,  complained  of  the  grievances  of  the  Eng- 
lish people.  Each  year  drew  more  closely  together 
those  on  both  sides  of  the  Tweed  who  were  contending 
for  the  same  religious  liberty,  until,  in  1643,  a  treaty 
was  formed  between  them,  known  as — The  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant. 

This  compact  bound  the  united  kingdoms  to  preserve 
the  Reformed  religion  in  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and 
to  reform  religion  in  the  kingdoms  of  England  and  Ire- 
land according  to  the  Word  of  God.  Soon  afterwards, 
the  execution  of  Charles  I.  took  place,  and  the  Cove- 
nanters proclaimed  his  son  as  their  king,  on  condition 
of  his  subscribino;  to  the  Covenant  that  bound  them  to- 
gether.  Thus  they  were  alienated  from  Oliver  Crom- 
well, the  Protector,  who,  notwithstanding,  after  the  ex- 
pulsion of  Charles  II.  from  Scotland,  allowed  the 
Scottish  Church  to  enjoy  a  season  of  prosperity  and 
peace.     Upon  his  death,  Charles  IL,  although  in  his 


44  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

former  extremities  lie  had  declared  that  he  "would 
have  no  enemies  but  the  enemies  of  the  covenant — no 
friends  but  the  friends  of  the  covenant,"  violated  all  his 
pledges,  and  endeavored  to  restore  prelacy.  With  this 
object  in  view,  making  use  of  numerous  unprincipled 
men,  he  succeeded  in  repealing  all  the  laws  that  favored 
the  spiritual  liberty  of  the  church.  As  noble  and  de- 
termined leaders  stood  up  to  oppose  these  measures,  they 
were  destined  to  martyi-dom.  The  Marquis  of  Argyle 
and  James  Guthrie,  Minister  of  Stirling,  were  put  to 
death,  and  many  others  were  imprisoned  or  banished. 
Four  bishops  were  then  ordained  in  London  to  govern 
the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  these  soon  arrived,  with 
authority  to  prohibit  all  meetings  of  SjTiods  or  Pres- 
byteries that  should  be  called  T\athout  their  concur- 
rence. 

An  act  was  also  passed  banishing  from  their  congre- 
gations all  ministers  who  should  fail  to  conform  to  these 
measures,  or  who  should  fail  to  sul^mit  to  the  appointed 
bishops.  In  consequence,  on  the  last  Sabbath  of  Octo- 
ber, 1662,  two  hundred  pastors  left  their  pulpits,  and 
soon  four  hundred  ministers  were  ejected  for  non-con- 
formity. Their  places  were  filled  by  ignorant  and  dis- 
graceful curates,  Avhose  teachings  and  conduct  alike 
made  the  j^eople  despise  them.  The  former  pastors 
sadly  left  their  houses,  their  beloved  flocks,  and  all 
they  held  dear  on  earth,  and,  amid  the  hardships  of 
winter,  hastened  to  the  districts  north  of  the  Tay  where 
they  could  worship  God  undisturbed  and  save  their 
souls  from  the  guilt  of  perjury. 

Some  of  the  ejected  ministers,  in  secluded  places,  still 
occasionally  preached,  and  crowds  came  to  them  from 


SCOTLAND.  45 

every  side.  Others  held  family  worship  in  their  own 
dwellings,  or  in  the  open  air,  and  many  joined  with  them. 
To  suppress  these  meetings,  .which  became  constantly 
more  numerous,  and  in  their  influence  dangerous  to  the 
plans  of  the  king,  the  army  was  employed,  and  bands  of 
armed  men  were  sent  everywhere  to  break  up  "  conven- 
ticles "  and  bring  to  punishment  those  who  frequented 
them. 

The  death  of  Charles  II.,  in  1685,  for  a  time  suspended 
these  persecutions,  but  they  were  fearfully  renewed 
when  his  brother,  James  IL,  turned  his  attention  to 
Scottish  affairs.  The  military  judges  resumed  their 
murderous  career  with  increased  eagerness,  making  the 
whole  south  and  west  of  Scotland  one  scene  of  carnage. 
Claverhouse,  whose  name  is  still  repeated  always  with 
emotions  of  disgust  and  horror,  and  who  had  formerly 
carried  fire  and  sword  into  many  peaceful  homes,  was 
now  a  privy  counsellor,  and,  selecting  such  instruments 
of  cruelty  as  he  could  find  to  act  as  his  subordinates, 
and  employing  countless  spies  and  informers,  he  hunted 
down  the  Covenanters,  not  hesitating,  when  his  solcl,iers 
wavered,  to  imbrue  his  own  hands  in  their  blood.  Vol- 
umes have  been  written  filled  with  the  story  of  these 
shameful  persecutions  which  spared  not  the  aged,  the 
feeble,  the  helpless  female,  the  unprotected  infant.  It 
was  not  brutality  enough  to  slay  the  victims.  Too 
often  they  were  inhumanly  tortured,  pent  in  disgusting 
dungeons,  suffocated,  starved,  branded,  drowned.  And 
yet  the  spirit  of  the  Covenanters  was  not  broken,  nor 
their  devotion  to  the  principles  of  God's  word  destroyed. 
A  revolution  succeeded.  The  throne  was  declared  va- 
cant, and   William,  Prince  of   Orange,   became  king, 


46  PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCH. 

when  all  its  rights  and  privileges  were  restored  by  law 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Scotland. 

In  1733  the  "  Secession.""  left  the  Established  Church, 
constituting  the  "  Associated  Presbytery."  This  sepa- 
ration occurred  subsequent  to  an  act  of  Queen  Anne's ' 
reign,  by  which  the  right  of  patronage  or  the  power  to 
nominate  a  pastor  to  a  vacant  church  was  vested  in  cer- 
tain individuals.  So  many  ministers  continued  to  be 
thrust  upon  congregations  contrary  to  the  will  of  the 
people  that,  in  1752,  the  "  Relief  "  Presbytery  also  went 
out.  In  1847  these  two  bodies  were  united,  and  now 
compi'ise  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Scotland, 
with  more  than  six  hundred  congregations. 

On  May  18th,  1843,  after  a  contest  of  ten  years  for 
the  spiritual  independence  of  the  Church  and  the  lib- 
erties of  the  people,  in  which  Dr.  Thomas  Chalmers 
bore  an  honorable  part,  nearly  five  hundred  ministers 
gave  up  their  livings  and  formed  the  Free  Church  of 
Scotland.  The  scene  was  impressive  when  the  Roj^al 
Commissioner  entered  the  Assembly  Hall  in  St.  An- 
drews Church  and  took  his  seat  on  the  throne.  After 
prayer,  the  Moderator,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Welsh,  read  a 
protest  against  further  proceedings,  and,  laying  it  upon 
the  clerk's  table  and  bowing  to  the  throne,  left  the  Hall, 
followed  by  an  illustrious  company  of  men  distinguished 
for  zeal,  piety,  learning,  and  faithfulness  in  the  cause 
of  Clirist.  As  they  marched  in  column,  four  abreast, 
through  the  streets  crowds  of  citizens,  who  watclied 
them  fi'om  the  sidewalks  and  the  windows  and  roofs  of 
the  housetops,  lifted  up  their  voices  and  cheered  them 
as  the  defenders  of  religious  liberty.  Arrived  at  Tan- 
field  Hall,  they  elected  Dr.  Chalmers  by  acclamation 


lirigd  hy  A  H  Kitchie 


^■t^     \y\^  ^^ L^x.-^^-'-v^ ^^ 


SCOTLAND.  47 

as  Moderator  of  the  First  General  Assembly  of  the 
Free  Church  of  Scotland,  and  proceeded  to  perfect  their 
plans  for  severing  their  connection  with  the  Govern- 
ment as  an  established  church,  and  for  managing  schemes 
for  home  and  foreign  work. 

Thus  there  are  now  three  large  bodies  of  Presbyteri- 
ans in  Scotland :  the  Established  Church,  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  Free  Church ;  also  a  con- 
siderable number  still  known  as  Covenanters. 

The  Established  Church  of  Scotland  comprises  more 
than  one-third  of  the  population  instructed  by  it  in  the 
word  of  God  and  the  Westminster  Shorter  Catechism. 

The  United  Presbyterian  Church,  formed  by  the  union 
of  the  "  Secession "  and  the  "  Relief,"  is  said  to  be 
heartily  in  favor  of  an  organic  union  with  the  "  Free 
Church,"  toward  which  it  manifests  a  strong  sympa- 
thy. 

The  Free  Church  has  now  nearly  nine  hundred  con- 
gregations, and  with  plans  for  missionary  and  benevo- 
lent enterprise,  and,  for  the  comfortable  support  of  its 
ministry,  the  education  of  pious  youth,  the  providing 
of  manses,  and  the  erection  of  church  edifices,  it  sets  a 
noble  example  to  all  sister  churches  throughout  the 
world.  In  Chalmers,  it  gave  to  the  age  an  unrivalled 
theologian ;  in  Candlish,  an  author  of  varied  gifts ;  in 
Guthrie,  an  impassioned  sacred  orator ;  in  Duff,  a  mis- 
sionary stimulating  multitudes  to  holy  consecration; 
and  in  McCosh,  a  master  of  mental  and  moral  science,  a 
defender  of  the  faith,  impressing  on  numerous  thought- 
ful minds  imperishable  truth. 


CHAPTER   III 

THE    PRESBYTERIAN    CnUECH   IN    IRELAND. 

TiiE  great  number  of  the  bishops  that  the  missionary 
(Saint)  Patrick  ordained  in  Ireland  in  the  fifth  century, 
sends  down  through  the  darkness  of  subsequent  times 
a  clear  ray  of  light  upon  the  fact  that  these  "  bishops  " 
were  pastors  of  parishes  or  congregations.  Says  Nen- 
nius :  "  He  founded  three  hundred  and  sixty-five 
churches,  and  ordained  three  hundred  and  sixty-five 
bishops  and  three  thousand  elders."  It  is  agreed  that 
the  primitive  church  of  Ireland  for  centuries  differed 
from  the  Eomish  Church,  and  held  to  the  Scriptures, 
reading  them  to  the  jDCople,  maintaining  the  doctrines 
that  became  those  of  the  Reformation,  worshipping 
with  simple  forms,  having  a  married  clergy,  and  organ- 
izing the  churches  with  elders  and  deacons. 

In  the  twelfth  century.  Pope  Adrian  IV.  enjoined 
upon  Henry  II.  of  England  to  enforce  conformity  to 
himself,  and,  within  a  century,  this  was  accomplished. 
Then  followed  manj^  sad  years  of  immorality  on  the 
part  of  the  priests,  and  of  ignorance  and  gross  supersti- 
tion among  the  people.  Here  and  there  a  few  copies  of 
portions  of  the  Scriptures  were  cherished,  and,  when  the 
labors  of  Luther  and  the  other  Refoi-mers  on  the  Conti- 
nent bore  fruit  in  their  own  lands,  to  Ireland  were 
communicated  some  seeds  of  life.  That  these  seeds 
were  springhig,  up  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  in  1556, 
in  the  reign   of  Mary,  three  Englisli   statutes  against 


IRELAND.  49 

heresy  were  re-enacted,  and  they  were  rigidly  enforced 
throughout  Ireland.  During  the  latter  years  of  Henry 
VIII.  he  endeavored  to  introduce  the  Reformation, 
under  himself  as  head  of  the  English  Church,  but  with 
little  success,  such  was  the  influence  of  the  priests. 
Under  Edward  VI.  an  English  liturgy  was  introduced, 
said  to  have  been  the  first  book  printed  in  Ireland,  and 
this  was  used  in  Dublin  in  1551.  Little  progress  was 
made  in  this  reign,  for  the  English  Church,  instead  of 
circulating  the  Scriptures  and  preaching  the  truth, 
sought  only  to  secure  an  outward  conformity  to  its  au- 
thority. During  the  reign  of  Mary  many  refugees 
from  England  spread  among  the  people  the  Reformed 
doctrines.  Six  months  after  Elizabeth  came  to  the 
throne  texts  of  Scripture  were  by  her  orders  substituted 
in  Christ  Church,  Dublin,  in  place  of  jDictures,  images, 
and  relics,  and  soon  after  two  Bibles  were  placed  in  the 
two  cathedrals  of  Dublin,  which  both  hearers  and  read- 
ers eagerly  used,  and  so  many  desired  copies  for  them- 
selves that  a  single  bookseller  sold  within  two  years 
from  1616  seven  thousand  Bibles.  The  year  1610  was 
memorable  for  the  number  of  emiajrants  from  Scotland 
and  England  who  settled  in  Ireland  and  who  brought 
with  them  the  Bible  and  faithful  preachers  to  explain 
it. 

In  1615  a  convocation  of  the  clergy  of  the  English 
Church  in  Ireland  met  in  Dublin  and  adopted  a  con- 
fession of  faith  that  was  more  Presbyterian  than  other- 
wise in  many  of  its  tenets.  It  establishes  the  sanctity 
of  the  Sabbath,  the  validity  of  ordination  by  presbyters, 
condemns  the  doctrine  of  priestly  absolution,  the  ob- 
servance of  Lent  as  a  religious  fast,  pronounces  the 

4 


50  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Pope  to  be  Antlclirist,  and  makes  no  distinction  in  the 
consecration  of  the  clergy,  leaving  them  all  in  this  mat- 
ter upon  an  equality. 

The  liberal  character  of  these  articles  encouraged 
emigration,  and  among  those  who  came  from  Great 
Britain  were  the  fathers  of  the  present  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Ireland.  A  few  years  later  a  great  revival 
of  religion  occurred,  wliich  opened  the  way  and  created 
a  desire  for  more  preachers.  As  these  came  at  the  call 
of  Pro-sddence,  especially  from  Scotland,  they  found 
the  hearts  of  the  people  opened  to  receive  the  word, 
and  a  record  of  great  successes  and  of  a  multitude  of 
conversions  in  all  parts  of  Ireland  follows. 

In  1626,  after  the  accession  of  Charles  I.,  a  long 
struggle  commenced  in  Ireland  between  the  king  and 
those  of  the  jieople  who  sympathized  -svith  the  oppo- 
nents of  Romanism.  Laud,  now  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, tried  to  introduce  into  the  Established  Church 
of  England  all  the  abominations  of  the  papists.  The 
communion  table  was  to  be  built  as  an  altar,  with  rail- 
ings, its  situation  always  at  the  east  end  of  the  chui'ch. 
Upon  it  were  to  be  seen  crucifixes  and  candles,  and  it 
must  be  saluted  with  low  bows  and  genuflexions.  Into 
the  churches  were  introduced  images,  pictures,  lighted 
tapers,  incense.  Saints  and  augels  were  worshipped, 
the  real  presence  maintained,  with  the  necessity  of  con- 
fession of  sin  to  the  i:)riests,  and  the  efl[icacy  of  their  ab- 
solution. Under  the  influence  of  this  prelate  and  his 
deputy,  Wentworth,  the  j^iety  of  the  Irish  clergy  de- 
clined, and  the  Romanists  were  encouraged. 

In  Ulster  the  Presbyterian  churches  grew  stronger, 
notwithstanding  the  severity  of  the  Prelatical  party. 


IRELAND. 


51 


wliicli  forbade  tlieir  miuisters  to  preach  in  public.  In 
1634  the  Presbyterians  of  Ulster  renewed  a  plan,  that 
under  former  persecutions  they  had  entertained,  name- 
ly, that  of  emigrating  to  Ne^v  England.  For  this  pur- 
pose, in  1636,  some  of  them,  one  hundred  and  forty  in 
number,  sailed  from  Loch  Fergus.  Detained  by  con- 
trary winds,  with  their  vessel  leaking,  when  nearly  half 
way  to  Newfoundland,  so  severe  a  storm  blew  from  the 
north-west  that  they  reluctantly  returned,  and  many, 
with  others  of  their  afflicted  brethren,  found  a  refuge 
on  the  western  shores  of  Scotland.  The  introduction 
of  the  new  liturgy  into  Scotland  in  1636,  and  the  pop- 
ular indignation  and  disturbances  w^hich  resulted  there- 
from at  Edinburgh  and  other  places  in  1637,  gave  in- 
terest, among  all  the  Irish  Presbyterians,  to  the  third 
renewal  of  the  National  Covenant  by  the  ministers  and 
people  at  Edinburgh,  on  March  first,  1638,  and  the  meet- 
ing of  a  General  Assembly  of  the  Church  at  Glasgow, 
in  November  of  the  same  year.  The  proceedings  of 
this  Assembly,  which  in  its  thorough  condemnation  of 
prelacy  cheered  its  own  Scottish  constituents,  also 
greatly  encouraged  the  Irish  Presbyterians.  Their 
choicest  ministers  had  fled  to  Scotland,  and  these  sent 
back  the  news  of  the  progress  and  sympathy  of  sister 
churches  in  that  land.  They  were  so  beloved  by  their 
former  flocks  that  multitudes  removed  to  Scotland  to 
enjoy  their  ministry.  Hundreds  would  visit  its  shores 
at  special  preaching  services,  and  on  one  occasion 
the  beloved  Livingston  baptized  twenty-five  children 
brought  over  for  that  purpose.  Multitudes  in  Ulster 
signed  the  National  Scottish  Covenant,  and  lists  of 
those  able  to  bear  arms,  if  defence  were  needed,  were 


52  PEESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

made  among  tliem.  Persecutions  followed,  ministers 
and  individuals  belonging  to  tlie  western  gentry  were 
threatened,  tliro^yn  into  prison,  and  driven  into  exile. 

From  this  time,  during  ten  subsequent  years,  the 
events  transpiring  in  England  and  Scotland  were  all 
preparing  the  way  for  better  days  to  Ireland.  It  was 
the  time  of  the  Lono;  Parliament,  of  the  fall  of  Straf- 
ford,  of  the  Irish  rebellion.  Then  followed  a  season 
of  apprehension  and  suspense,  which  proved  to  be  the 
darkness  that  preceded  the  dawn. 

In  1641  what  is  called  "The  Great  Rebellion"  broke 
out.  Its  object  was  to  destroy  Protestantism,  and  to 
restore  the  patrimony  of  the  Pomisli  Church.  It  began 
originally  with  the  native  Irish,  encouraged  by  a  non- 
resident nobility  whose  estates  had  been  confiscated, 
and  who,  from  the  capitals  of  the  Continent,  communi- 
cated with  them  through  the  priests.  It  had  attained 
such  importance  that  King  Charles  I.,  February  8, 
1642,  issued  his  commission  for  ten  thousand  men  to 
suppress  it.  The  arrival  of  these  troops  from  Scotland, 
with  their  godly  and  prudent  regimental  chaplains, 
marks  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Ulster,  for  by  them  its  foundations  were 
once  more  there  renewed.  Some  of  the  chaplains  were : 
Hugh  Cunningham,  Thomas  Peebles,  John  Baird, 
James  Simpson,  John  Scott,  John  Aird,  and  the  valued 
and  honored  John  Livingston.  These  godly  ministers 
at  once  established  a  session  in  each  regiment,  and  then 
called  together  the  first  regularly  constituted  Presby- 
tery held  in  Ireland,  at  Carriclcfergus,  on  June  10,  1642. 
Five  ministers  and  four  ruling  elders  were  present,  and 
arrangements   were   made   by  them  to  organize  more 


IRELAND.  53 

sessions,  to  hold  frequent  meetings  of  Presbytery,  to 
secure  catechetical  instruction  among  the  people,  and 
to  provide  for  the  regular  preaching  of  the  Gospel. 

Adjoining  parishes  soon  sent  to  this  Presbytery  for 
supplies  and  for  assistance  in  the  formation  of  churches, 
and  these  petitions  were  complied  with. 

To  Scotland,  the  stronghold  of  Presbyterian  faith 
and  order,  the  people  now  looked  for  more  helpers ; 
and  in  1642  two  settled  pastors  came  thence  to  their 
former  congregations,  and  six  ministers  were  commis- 
sioned to  spend  a  year  in  Ireland  each,  to  build  up  the 
congregations  and  preach  to  them  the  Gospel.  So  suc- 
cessful were  these  brethren  and  others  subsequently  ar- 
riving, that  the  Assembly  of  l()4o,  in  response  to  fur- 
ther petitions,  sent  others  temporarily  to  fill  places 
which  it  would  gladly  have  occupied  w^ith  permanent 
pastors. 

Now  follow  the  civil  war  of  England,  the  meeting 
of  the  Westminster  Assembly  of  Divines,  and  the  adop- 
tion of  "  The  Solemn  League  and  Covenant "  by  the 
Scottish  Parliament.  This  celebrated  bond  was  amend- 
ed so  that  it  could  be  received  also  in  Ireland,  and  was 
promptly  sent  thither.  It  was  received  with  acclama- 
tions of  joy,  and,  while  it  was  administered  to  the  sol- 
diers, crowds  of  the  people  came  together  in  every  place 
and  also  signed  and  affirmed  it.  In  1644  more  minis- 
ters came  from  Scotland,  and  thanks  were  sent  to  Hol- 
land for  provisions  and  clothing  to  the  amount  of 
twenty  thousand  pounds,  which  had  been  contributed 
to  the  sufferers  in  Ireland. 

The  General  Assembly  of  1645,  in  reply  to  renewed 
petitions  from  Ireland,  ordered  certain  of  its  ministers 


54  PEESBYTEEIAH-   CHUKCH. 

"  to  repair  to  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  there  to  visit, 
comfort,  instruct,  and  encourage  the  scattered  flocks  of 
Christ,  according  to  the  direction  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
according  to  the  doctrine  and  discij:)line  of  this  church 
in  all  things."  These  preachers  were  followed  by 
others,  and  congregations  here  and  there  sought  and 
obtained  pastors  from  Scotland.  Amid  the  succeeding 
civil  strife,  in  the  midst  of  which  Charles  I.  was  be- 
headed, the  churches  in  the  north  of  Ireland  were 
gaining  in  numbers  and  in  spirituality,  and  the  Com- 
monwealth found  them  united  and  growing  in  prosper- 
ity. The  persecutions  that  subsequently  devastated 
Scotland,  drove  to  them  more  pastors  and  preachers, 
and  soon  a  stated  allowance  from  the  Irish  Council 
aided  the  maintenance  of  their  ministers. 

At  the  time  of  Cromwell's  death,  the  vacant  pulpits 
of  Ulster  ^vere  gradually  gaining  supplies  ;•  but,  after 
the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  the  congregations  en- 
tered upon  another  period  of  suffering  and  persecution, 
for,  ^vhen  prelacy  was  by  the  king  re-established,  the 
ministers  were  not  only  cut  off  from  their  churches 
and  livings,  but  were  forbidden,  under  heavy  penalties, 
from  preaching,  baptizing,  or  exhorting.  "  Blood's 
Plot "  to  secure  the  person  of  the  Duke  of  Orinond, 
Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  in  1G63,  was  charged 
upon  the  pastors  of  the  north,  and  they  were  ordered 
to  leave  the  country,  or  suffer  imprisonment.  All  but 
two  retired,  most  of  them  to  Scotland.  The  persecu- 
tion subsiding,  most  of  them  again  returned  and  re- 
sumed their  labors.  Troublous  times  succeeded,  in 
which  unruly  and  erratic  men  hindered  in  some  places 
the  prosperity  of  the  cluirches,  and,  under  the  arbitrary 


IRELAISTD.  65 

rule  of  James  II.,  nicany  timid  hearers  wandered  away 
from  the  Presbyterian  congregations.  The  king's 
policy,  however,  was  to  favor  liberty  of  conscience,  so 
that  his  Roman  Catholic  adherents  mio-ht  introduce 
their  w^orship.  On  this  account  he  published  his  cele- 
brated "  Declaration,"  granting  such  liberty,  and  thus 
undesignedly  he  at  once  afforded  relief  to  his  Presby- 
terian subjects  in  Ireland.  Soon  after,  to  the  joy  of 
those  who  had  longed  and  prayed  for  greater  liberty  of 
conscience,  the  Prince  of  Orange  arrived  among  them 
All  their  troubles  were,  however,  by  no  means  con^ 
eluded,  for  many  of  the  Irish  people  were  yet  to  suffer 
since  their  own  region  soon  became  the  theatre  of  bat 
tie.  The  siege  of  Derry,  a  famous  event  in  Irish  his- 
tory, resulted,  the  forces  of  James  investing  the  city 
and  cutting  off  its  supplies. 

Since  very  many  had  fled  from  other  towns  to  Derry, 
thinking  that  they  would  there  find  protection,  its  in- 
vestment subjected  a  crowded  population  within  its 
walls  to  the  perils  of  starvation  and  pestilence.  But 
after  a  memorable  siege  of  one  hundred  and  five  days, 
during  which  multitudes  perished,  relief  was  brought 
to  the  survivors.  These  perils  were  succeeded  by  rest 
from  persecution,  for  soon  afterwards  the  Presbyterians 
of  Ireland  began  to  enjo37-  the  liberal  protection  of 
King  William. 

The  Synod  of  1690,  at  Belfast,  was  followed  bj  suc- 
cessive synods  which  made  all  needful  arrangements 
for  the  supply  of  vacant  pulpits,  the  education  of  young 
men  for  the  ministry,  and  the  exercise  of  discipline. 
A  missionary  fund  was  established  by  the  Synod  of 
1705,  for  the  support  of  feeble  congregations,  which 


56  PRESBYTERIAN   CIIUKCH. 

subsequent  synods  increased  and  usefully  applied.  In 
1719,  under  tlie  reign  of  George  I.,  there  were  eleven 
Presbyteries,  with  one  liundi*ed  and  forty  congregations. 
The  brethren  in  England  sent  to  the  Irish  Presbyte- 
rians messages  of  sympathy,  donations,  and  legacies. 
Publications  in  the  Irish  language  were  multiplied,  and 
preachers  in  the  same  tongue  went  forth  in  large  num- 
bers. 

Outward  persecutions  for  a  time  being  now  stayed, 
the  church  in  Ireland  passed  through  a  severe  ordeal 
from  heresy  within  it,  but  by  discussion,  and  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel,  the  truth  came  forth  into 
clear  and  open  triumph.  In  1724  to  1728,  the  rise  of 
rents  and  tithes,  and  bad  harvests,  drove  to  America 
four  thousand  two  hundred  emigrants,  many  of  w^hom 
were  staunch  Presb3^terians,  carrying  with  them  good 
seed  to  plant  in  the  new  Western  World. 

Forty  years  later,  the  Irish  people,  when  an  appeal 
for  funds  came  to  them  from  the  same  land,  out  of 
their  deep  poverty  contributed  more  than  four  hundred 
pounds.  They  had  j^reviously  taken  in  their  churches 
a  collection  in  aid  of  "  The  College  of  Kew  Jersey," 
and  given  to  it,  from  Armagh,  its  President,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Samuel  Finley. 

Since  those  days  the  Irish  Presbyterian  Church  has 
grown  in  resources,  numbers,  and  influence.  It  has 
Avidely  circulated  the  Scriptures,  it  has  carried  forward 
the  work  of  Foreign  Missions  ;  it  has  built  manses  and 
organized  a  General  Sustentation  Fund,  to  secure  an 
adequate  maintenance  for  its  ministers ;  it  has  stimu- 
lated its  people  to  regard  the  religious  education  of 
their  children,  and  to  maintain  the  consistent  observ- 


lEELAND. 


57 


ance  of  tlie  Sabbath,  and,  in  its  plans  for  Christian 
work  in  cities,  and  for  the  evangelization  of  destitute 
fields  within  its  own  bounds,  has  set  forth  a  conspicu- 
ous and  noble  example  to  the  Christians  of  other 
lands. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

.     THE    PEESBYTERLiN    CHURCH   IN"    EliGLAJSTD. 

We  find  traces  of  a  pure  and  primitive  faith,  and  of 
a  simple  and  scriptural  order  of  cliurch  government,  at 
a  far  earlier  date  in  Scotland  and  in  Ireland  tlian  in 
England.  This  is  not,  however,  because  they  first 
existed  in  those  portions  of  Great  Britain,  but  rather 
because  those  regions  were  not  so  near  and  accessible 
to  persecuting  Rome,  that,  soon  after  it  had  gained 
su23remacy,  drove  to  remote  and  far-distant  corners  the 
witnesses  of  the  truth.  When  the  Reformation,  sweep- 
ing througli  Germany,  Switzerland,  and  France,  rolled 
on  its  purifying  wave  to  the  British  Isles,  England  was 
not  all  dark  or  corrupt.  From  the  eastern  w^orld,  Eng- 
land, like  Scotland  and  Ireland,  very  early  received  the 
Gospel.  When,  in  a.d.  449,  Hengist  and  Ilorsa, 
with  their  Saxon  followers,  subjugated  the  race,  Chris 
tianity  ^vas  driven  back  with  the  Britons  into  the 
mountains  of  Wales  and  the  moors  of  Northumberland 
and  Cornwall.  There  its  sparks  and  embers  survived, 
and  thence  it  l)urst  forth  again  and  again,  and  sent 
back  its  light  to  the  regions  whence  it  had  l)een  ex- 
pelled. The  pupils  of  Columba  and  his  brother  mis- 
sionaries repaid  the  debt  which  their  more-distant  ter- 
ritory owed  to  the  former  generations,  and  taught  in 
England  their  own  religious  system :  "  The  Holy  Script- 
ures are  the  only  rule  of  faith.  Throw  aside  all  merit 
of  works,  and  look  for  salvation  to  the  grace  of  God 


ENGLAND. 


59 


alone.  Beware  of  a  religion  wliicli  consists  of  outward 
observances :  it  is  better  to  keep  your  heart  pure  be- 
fore God  than  to  abstain  from  meats.  One  alone  is 
your  head — Jesus  Christ.  Bishops  and  Presbyters  are 
the  same ;  they  should  be  husbands  of  one  wife,  and 
have  their  children  in  subjection." 

When  the  Saxons  became  successors  to  the  Britons, 
and,  subduing  them,  occupied  the  best  portions  of  Eng- 
land, Papal'  Rome  fixed  upon  them  her  gaze,  and  pre- 
pared to  reduce  them  to  her  power.  The  marriage  of 
Ethelbert,  King  of  Kent,  to  a  princess  of  Frank  ori- 
gin, afforded  a  favorable  oj^portunity  to  accomplish 
this  object.  Pope  Gregory  the  Great  sent  Augustine 
in  A.D.  596  with  a  numerous  band  of  helpers  to  intro- 
duce into  England  the  Romish  worship.  These  mes- 
sengers were  not  idle  in  their  task.  They  fulfilled 
their  mission  among  the  Saxons,  but  failed  to  convince, 
by  arguments,  or  threats,  or  persecutions,  the  more 
stubborn  Britons  and  sturdy  Scots.  As  Rome  gained 
a  stronger  hold  upon  the  former  race,  she  instigated  its 
heathen  warriors  to  exterminate  those  who  refused  to 
submit  to  her,  and  multitudes  of  Christians  were  slain. 

But  amid  this  darkness  a  bright  star  shines  forth  in 
the  life  and  labors  of  Oswald,  an  Anglo-Saxon  prince, 
who,  trained  in  Scotland,  and  a  baptized  convert,  set 
before  himself  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  his  model. 
Recovering  the  throne  of  his  ancestors,  he  sought  for 
missionaries  from  lona,  welcomed  them  into  his  domin- 
ions, himself  exhibited  a  Christian  exam23le,  and,  when 
fatally  wounded  in  battle  l^y  rebels,  with  his  latest 
breath  prayed  for  the  souls  of  his  people.  This  ^vas  in 
A.D.   642.     For   seven  centuries  succeeding  this    date. 


60  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

always  opposed,  yet  always  conquering  by  fraud,  cun- 
ning, and  violence,  anti-Christian  Rome  held  sway  in 
England.  Yet  ever  there  were  not  wanting  some  who 
loved  God's  truth,  and  who,  ^v^hen  brought  to  the  test, 
died  rather  than  betray  it. 

In  1324,  in  a  little  village  of  Yorkshire,  was  born 
John  Wickliffe,  the  morning  star  of  the  Reformation. 
When  twenty -four  years  of  age,  during  the  prevalence 
of  a  terrible  pestilence,  he  passed  many  days  and  nights 
groaning  and  sighing  and  calling  upon  God  to  lead 
him  in  the  true  path.  His  prayers  were  heard,  for  he 
found  in  the  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  such  spirit- 
ual peace  and  instruction  that  he  i-esolved  to  make 
these  treasures  known  also  to  others.  Educated  at 
Merton  College,  Oxford,  he  became  a  teacher  and 
preacher,  and  laid  out  his  strength  to  restore  to  his 
country  what  corrupt  priests  had  banished — the  Bible. 
Despite  oj)positiou,  obloquy,  and  persecution,  in  the 
face  of  solemn  injunctions  against  preaching  the  truth, 
he  attacked  the  papacy,  he  proclaimed  the  Gospel  to 
the  poor,  and  at  last  translated  the  Latin  Bil^le  into  his 
native  tongue,  so  that  all  his  countrymen  might  read  it. 
For  nearly  fifteen  years  he  steadily  toiled  at  this  great 
task,  and  in  1380  completed  his  Bible,  which  was 
everywhere  welcomed  and  studied.  "  You  could  not 
meet  two  persons  on  the  highway,"  says  a  writer  of  his 
time,  "  but  one  of  them  was  Wickliffe's  disciple."  His 
own  Bible  taught  Wickliffe,  and  led  him  on,  step  by 
step,  to  attack  one  false  teaching  of  the  papacy  after 
another,  until  tlie  Ijreach  between  himself  and  the  pope 
widened  to  such  a  degree  that  nothing  could  have  saved 
him  from  threatened  martyi'dom  but  the  inability  of  his 


ENGLAND. 


61 


foes,  tampered  by  political  quarrels  and  convulsions, 
to  bring  him  to  such  a  fate. 

After  his  death,  his  disciples  and  followers  spread 
abroad  his  teachings.  They  circulated  the  Scriptures 
which  he  had  translated,  and  his  different  works ;  they 
called  upon  Parliament  to  abolish  celibacy,  prayers  for 
the  dead,  offerings  to  images,  auricular  confession,  and 
other  popish  doctrines.  They  nailed  on  the  gates  of 
St.  Paul's  and  Westminster  Abbey  the  "  Twelve  Con- 
clusions," a  series  of  Scrij)tural  statements. 

But  the  fires  of  persecutors  were  preparing,  and 
Henry  IV.,  Lancaster,  hoping  to  strengthen  his  throne, 
at  the  dictation  of  the  priests,  kindled  them.  William 
Sautre,  for  saying,  "  Instead  of  adoring  the  cross  on 
which  Christ  suffered,  I  adore  Christ,  who  suffered  on 
it,"  was  burned  alive  at  Smithfield,  in  1401.  In  1417, 
Sir  John  Oldcastle — Lord  Cobham — under  Henry  V., 
resolutely  confessing  Christ,  was  dragged  on  a  hurdle 
to  Saint  Giles's  fields,  was  there  suspended  by  chains 
over  a  slow  fire,  and  cruelly  burned  to  death. 

Such  brutality,  however,  did  not  crush  out  the  truth. 
With  a  revival  of  learning  in  England,  God's  word  was 
more  widely  read  and  more  heartily  embraced.  The 
visit  of  Erasmus  to  the  learned  men  of  the  Ens^lish 
court  filled  their  minds  with  his  severe  satires  upon  the 
vices  of  the  priests,  and  diminished  the  veneration 
which,  attached  by  tradition  to  their  clerical  habit, 
their  own  disgraceful  conduct  had  already  in.  no  small 
degree  impaired. 

The  course  of  History  conducts  us  through  the  reign 
of  Henry  VII.,  and  into  that  of  Henry  VIII.  Cardi- 
nal Wolsey  rises  to  the  height  of   his  ambitious  de- 


62  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCn. 

sires,  and  falls,  like  Lucifer,  to  rise  no  moi-e.  Mean- 
time, the  students  of  God's  word  followed  eacli  other 
to  the  blazing  fagots.  John  Brown,  for  ridiculing  the 
deliverance  of  souls  from  j^urgatory  by  jiriestly  efforts, 
was  tortured  to  induce  him  to  confess  the  efficacy  of 
the  mass,  and,  when  he  remained  unshaken,  he  was 
burned  to  death.  Thomas  Bilney,  a  modest  student  of 
Trinity  College,  Caml^ridge,  in  the  midst  of  vigils,  fast- 
ings, and  despair,  l)uys  the  Greek  Testament  collated 
by  Erasmus.  His  eye  catches  the  words,  "  This  is  a 
faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that 
Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners,  of 
whom  I  am  chief."  Joyful  he  saw  that  Jesus  saves 
sinners. 

With  him  was  soon  associated  William  Tyndale, 
another  enthusiastic  student,  who,  enlightened  by  God's 
word,  began  to  lecture  with  success  at  Oxford  upon  the 
Greek  Testament.  Persecuted  there,  he  hastened  to 
Cambridge,  where  he  and  Bilney  spread  liglit  all 
about  them.  To  assist  the  two  scholars,  a  third,  John 
Fryth,  came  forward,  and,  drawing  from  the  same  New- 
Testament  its  saving  truths,  joined  them  in  preaching 
salvation  through  Jesus  Christ  alone.  With  the  help 
of  Fryth,  Tyndale  rapidly  translated  the  Greek  Testa- 
ment into  plain  English.  Soon,  knowledge  of  his  task 
coming  to  the  ears  of  the  priests,  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  his  country  to  complete  it  in  Germany. 

While  thus  occupied,  his  associate,  Bilney,  is  exerting 
a  powerful  influence  at  Oxford.  The  future  martyr, 
Latimer,  is,  by  conference  with  him,  brought  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  truth.  Four  editions  of  Tyndale's 
New  Testament,  printed  partly  at  Cologne  and  partly 


I 


ENGLAND.  63 

at  Worms,  successively  arrive  in  England,  to  the  joy 
of  believers,  the  conversion  of  a  multitude  of  inquirers, 
and  the  discomfiture  of  wicked  bishops  and  their  allies. 
Bilney  became  a  marked  victim.  Three  times  arrested 
and  threatened  without  flinching,  at  his  fourth  arrest 
his  courage  failed,  and  he  recanted.  But  released,  and 
repenting,  he  renewed  his  preaching,  and,  from  house 
to  house,  and  in  the  open  country,  he  declared  his  own 
errors  and  the  doctrines  of  God's  word.  Again  arrested 
and  convicted  of  heresy,  he  was  burned  at  the  stake  in 
1531. 

Copies  of  Tyndale's  translation  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, meantime,  have  been  sought  for  by  many  serious 
inquirers.  Thomas  Garret,  a  poor  curate  of  London, 
after  reading  this,  to  him,  most  new  and  wonderful 
book,  exclaims :  "  His  word  was  in  my  heart  as  a  burn- 
ing fire  shut  up  in  my  bones,  and  I  was  weary  with 
forbearing,  and  I  could  not  stay."  Anxious  that  others 
should  share  with  him  this  precious  treasure,  he  went 
forth  circulating  it  on  every  hand,  selling  it  to  laymen, 
and  monks,  and  priests.  Soon  the  word  found  a  lodge- 
ment in  a  multitude  of  dwellings.  The  Gospels  and 
Epistles  were  committed  to  memory  by  many ;  meet- 
ings for  reading  and  hearing  them  read,  and  for  preach- 
ing, were  multiplied.  Alike  in  the  splendid  dwellings 
of  the  rich  and  in  the  humbler  cottages  of  the  poor 
were  these  gatherings  held,  and,  by  means  of  them, 
numbers  received  the  truth. 

After  the  fall  of  Wolsey  and  the  establishment  of 
prelacy  in  England,  under  Henry  VIH.,  as  head  of  the 
church,  in  1539  a  commission  was  appointed  by  the 
king  to  form   articles  for  directing   the  doctrine  and 


64  PRESBYTEEIAIf    CIIUECII. 

worship  of  the  church.  The  six  articles  thus  prepared 
enjoiued,  under  pain  of  confiscation  of  property,  im- 
prisonment, or  death,  for  iieresy,  conformity  to  these 
opinions  and  practices  : — The  real  presence  in  the  sac- 
rament, communion  for  the  laity  only  in  the  use  of  the 
bread,  the  celibacy  of  the  priests,  the  observance  of 
monastic  vows,  masses,  and  auricular  confession.  In 
opposition  to  these  articles  so  savoring  of  Popery,  those 
who  still  received  the  pure  doctrines  of  the  Gospel 
taught  them  l)oldly,  and  from  the  seeds  which  they 
planted  arose  the  Puritans,  who  appear  in  the  succeed- 
ing reigns,  many  of  them  as  Presbyterians,  and  many 
as  Independents. 

The  influence  of  the  Keformed  Churches  of  the  Con- 
tinent must  not  be  overlooked  when  considering  the 
j)rogress  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  England. 

Near  the  coast  of  France,  and  in  the  English  Chan- 
nel, are  the  two  islands  of  Guernsey  and  Jersey.  To 
these  islands,  numbers  of  the  persecuted  Huguenots, 
looking  on  all  sides  for  places  of  refuge,  fled  when 
driven  from  their  homes,  and  here  they  planted  their 
churches.  During  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by 
royal  protection,  their  ministers  and  elders,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1587,  held  their  first  synod.  Greater  privileges 
were  obtained  under  the  rule  of  James  I.,  and  from  these 
refugee  Presbyterians  an  influence  soon  went  forth  to 
the  various  cities  of  England. 

Meantime,  in  1540,  John  d  Lasco,  a  nobleman  of 
Poland,  arrived  in  London.  Able,  eloquent,  learned, 
and  deeply  pious,  he  had  enjoyed  special  advantages 
abroad.  In  Switzerland  he  had  consorted  with  Zwingli, 
and  received  from  him  counsel   and  encourafrement. 


ENGLAND.  65 

Under  his  influence,  in  1550,  a  congregation  of  German 
refugees  was  formed  in  London,  and,  as  a  place  of 
worship,  the  church  of  the  Augustine  friars  was  as- 
signed to  them.  This  congregation  was  soon  erected 
into  a  corj)oration,  under  the  direction  of  John  a  Lasco, 
now  recognized  as  Superintendent  of  all  foreign  churches 
in  London,  with  whom  four  other  ministers  were  asso- 
ciated. In  the  act  of  incorporation,  the  lord  mayor, 
aldermen,  and  magistrates  of  the  city,  and  all  arch- 
bishops, bishops,  and  justices  of  the  peace,  are  enjoined 
to  permit  the  superintendent  and  ministers  to  enjoy  and 
exercise  their  o^vn  rites  and  ceremonies. 

In  London  the  French  Presbyterians  also  formed  a 
congregation,  to  which  the  church  of  St.  Anthony  was 
granted.  These  French  Presbyterians  were  permitted 
to  use  the  Genevan  discipline  and  order  of  worship. 

After  the  death  of  Henry  VIII.,  during  the  short 
reign  of  Edward  VI.,  such  Eeformed  churches  and 
ministers  as  were  of  the  Presbyterian  family  i-emained 
unmolested,  and  many  were  added  to  their  number. 
Learned  men,  as  Martin  Bucer  and  Paul  Fagius,  from 
Germany,  invited  to  England  by  the  king,  taught  the 
true  doctrines  and  simple  forms  of  worship  of  God's 
word. 

The  reign  of  the  bloody  Mary  succeeded.  Not  less 
than  four  hundred  martyrs  were  publicly  executed, 
many  others  being  secretly  slain.  Among  them  were 
twenty  clergymen  of  high  attainments,  sixty  women, 
and  forty  children.  Peter  Martyr  and  John  a  Lasco 
were  expelled  fi-om  the  country.  The  congregation  of 
the  latter  was  included  in  his  sentence.  Hundreds,  es- 
tablished in  the  faith  and  order  of  the  Reformers,  fled 


Q6  PRESBYTERIAN    CIIURCK. 

to  the  Continent,  and  settled  along  the  Rhine,  in  France, 
in  Switzerland,  in  Austria,  in  Holland.  Wherevei 
they  made  their  residence  in  these  lands  they  found 
Presbyterian  Reformers,  ministers,  elders,  and  an  or- 
ganization, more  or  less  perfect,  of  Sessions,  Presby- 
teries, and  Synods. 

Hence,  it  is  no  wonder  that,  when  Elizabeth  came  to 
the  throne,  multitudes  of  these  exiles  returned  to  Eng- 
land, confirmed  more  thoroughly  than  ever  before  in 
their  attachment  to  the  doctrines  and  worship  of  theii- 
church.  Many  of  them  who  were  ministers  were  em- 
ployed as  pastors  in  the  parish  churches,  in  cities,  and 
towns,  and  throughout  the  country ;  but  little  of  that 
conformity  to  the  established  church  being  then  de- 
manded, which  in  subsequent  reigns  was  so  rigidly  en- 
forced. In  their  constant  ministrations  they  circulated 
the  Genevan  Bibles,  they  instructed  their  people  in  the 
principles  of  church  order,  and  thus  laid  solid  founda- 
tions for  a  pure  and  primitive  ecclesiastical  system. 
God's  Providence  was,  by  these  teachings  and  efforts, 
preparing  the  way  in  England  for  the  Puritans,  the 
Independents,  and  the  Presbyterians — the  Non-con- 
formists of  succeeding  days. 

To  the  Parliament  of  1572  leading  men  who  desired 
a  purer  church  than  that  of  the  establishment  addressed 
a  petition  detailing  their  grievances.  They  presented 
a  scrij^tural  plan  of  church  government,  affirmed  the 
equality  of  ministers,  defined  the  method  of  selecting 
them,  and  described  their  duties ;  while  they  prayed 
that  the  Church  of  England  might  be  further  reformed 
and  brought  back  to  the  ancient  simplicity  of  apostolic 
times.     For  presuming  to  criticise  the  present  condition 


ENGLAND.  67 

of  tlie  established  Cliurcli,  and  to  present  this  document 
to  the  House  of  Commons,  its  authors  were  imprisoned. 
The  arbitrary  rejection  of  this  petition  paved  the  way 
for  the  organization  of  the  first  regularly  constituted 
Presbytery  of  the  Reformation  period. 

This  was  organized  on  the  twentieth  of  November, 
1572,  at  Wandsworth,  a  village  near  London.  There 
were  present  about  fifteen  ministers,  but  a  considerable 
number  of  laymen ;  and,  after  having  constituted  the 
Presbytery,  they  set  apart  eleven  elders,  and  defined 
and  set  forth  their  duties  in  a  treatise  which  they 
styled  the  "  Orders  of  Wandsworth."  The  formation 
of  this  Presbytery  was  followed  by  the  free  preaching 
of  the  Gospel,  the  education  of  numerous  able  and 
godly  ministers,  and  the  establishment  of  many  Pres- 
byterian congregations. 

The  "  Orders  of  Wandsworth  "  did  not,  it  is  probable, 
differ  essentially  from  a  treatise,  "  printed  for  John 
Wright,  in  the  Old-baily  in  1644,"  and  "Published 
by  Authority."  This  is  entitled,  "A  Directory  of 
Church-government.  Anciently  contended  for,  and  as 
farre  as  the  Times  would  suffer,  practiced  by  the  first 
Non-conformists  in  the  daies  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 
Found  in  the  ftudy  of  the  moft  accomj^lished  Divine, 
]VP.  Thomas  Cartwright^  after  his  deceafe;  and  re- 
served to  be  published  for  such  a  time  as  this." 

Herein  is  described  the  discipline  of  Christ's  Church 
as  it  is  delivered  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  necessity 
of  a  call  to  the  ministry  of  the  word,  and  other  public 
service  in  God's  house.  The  proper  order  of  worship 
and  a  directory  for  the  same  follow,  with  directions  for 
the  election  of  pastors,  and  the  administration  of  the 


68  PPwESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

sacraments  of  the  church.  The  article  upon  "The 
Catechisrae  "  is  of  special  interest,  since  its  early  inti- 
mations were  so  closely  obeyed  by  the  "  Westminster 
Assembly "  nearly  a  century  later.  "  Let  the  Cate- 
chisme  bee  taught  in  every  church.  Let  there  be  two 
sorts.  One,  more  large,  applied  to  the  delivering  of 
the  sum  of  Keligion  by  a  sute  and  order  of  certaine 
places  of  the  Scriptures,  according  to  which  some  point 
of  the  holy  Doctrine  may  be  expounded  every  week. 
Another,  of  the  same  sort,  but  shorter,  fit  for  the  ex- 
amination of  the  rude  and  ignorant  before  they  be  ad- 
mitted to  the  Lord's  Supper." 

A  clause  of  the  article  which  treats  "  Of  Students  of 
Divinity "  is  worthy  of  notice :  "  In  every  church 
where  it  may  conveniently  be  done,  care  is  to  be  had 
that  some  poore  Schollers  studious  of  Divinity,  being 
fit  for  Theologicall  exercises,  and  especially  for  ex- 
pounding of  holy  Scripture,  may,  by  the  liberality  of 
the  godly  rich,  be  taught  and  trained  up  to  preach." 
Full  directions  are  giv^en  briefly  for  the  calling  of  Ses- 
sions and  higher  courts,  and  for  the  ordering  of  business 
within  them,  which  contain  the  germs  of  all  the  ecclesi- 
astical procedures  of  the  Presbyterians  of  the  present 
day. 

This  was  the  "Book  of  Discipline,"  formed  in  1586 
by  the  Elizabethan  Presbyterians,  and  subscribed  by 
more  than  five  hundred  of  the  most  godly  and  devoted 
ministers  of  England. 

From  this  time  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  England 
grew  and  gathered  in  multitudes  of  pious  men  and 
women  of  all  classes. 

The  accession  of  James  I.,  upon  the  death  of  Queen 


ENGLAND.  69 

Elizabetli,  subjected  all  who  were  not  willing  to  con- 
form to  his  strangely  prelatical  views  to  new  distresses. 
Successive  conferences  and  convocations  showed  the 
royal  purpose  to  be  most  despotic  and  arbitrary  in 
reference  to  ecclesiastical  control. 

Once  more  oppressed  and  driven  forth,  many  Pres- 
byterians fled  to  the  Continent.  In  every  country  they 
were  greeted  with  a  welcome,  and  their  pastors  soon 
found  abundant  opportunity  to  preach. 

The  year  1618  is  memorable  for  the  publication  of 
King  James's  "  Book  of  Sports,"  which  proposed  that 
the  people,  after  divine  service,  should  be  indulged  in 
such  recreations  as  "  dancing,  archery,  leaping.  May- 
games,  Whitson-ales,  morrice  dances,  setting  up  of  May- 
poles," and  similar  amusements.  It  was  the  royal  order 
that  this  "  Book  of  Sports "  should  be  read  in  the 
churches.  Many  pastors  refused  to  read  it,  and  left 
their  parishes.  Others,  when  they  read  it,  also  read 
the  Fourth  Commandment,  saying  afterwards :  "  This 
is  the  command  of  God,  the  former  is  only  an  injunc- 
tion by  man." 

The  distresses  of  this  reign  were  surpassed  when 
Charles  I.  came  to  his  father's  throne.  AVith  Laud  as 
Bishop  of  London,  and  then  as  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, there  was  no  lack  of  persecuting  violence  coming 
down  upon  all  who  would  not  yield  to  his  Popish  en- 
croachments. The  "  Book  of  Sports  "  was  again  pub- 
lished, and  all  ministers  not  conforming  to  the  Church 
of  England  were  forbidden  to  preach,  and  their  con- 
gregations were  commanded  to  withdraw  from  them. 
But  the  very  intolerance  that  pursued  them  was  made 
by  God  the  means  of  their  deliverance.     Charles  came 


70  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

into  collision  with  the  great  majority  of  his  subjects. 
Pym,  Hampden,  Cromwell,  Selden,  and  a  multitude  of 
other  instruments  to  bring  in  liberty  to  England,  were 
raised  up.  The  Long  Parliament,  in  abolishing  the 
Star  Chamber  and  the  Court  of  High  Commission, 
those  old  engines  of  tyranny,  commenced  a  course  of 
opposition  to  the  royal  usurpation  of  authority  over  the 
consciences  of  subjects,  that  led  directly  and  rapidly  to 
the  king's  destruction. 

In  1643  the  English  Parliament  passed  an  ordinance 
convening  what  has  ever  since  been  called  the  West- 
minster Assembly  of  Divines.  It  consisted  of  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-four  members,  of  whom  one  hundred 
and  forty-two  were  ministers.  Of  these,  sixty-nine  ap- 
peared the  first  day,  and  generally  the  attendance 
ranged  between  sixty  and  eighty.  They  convened  in 
the  Chapel  of  Henry  VIII.,  at  Westminster,  and  held 
their  sessions  in  that  Chapel,  and  in  the  Jerusalem 
Chamber,  for  more  than  five  years  and  a  half.  The 
object  of  their  appointment  was  declared  by  Parlia- 
ment to  be  to  settle  a  government  in  the  Church  of 
Eno-land  that  may  be  most  agreeable  to  God's  Holy 
Word,  and  most  apt  to  procure  the  peace  of  the  Church 
at  home,  and  nearer  agreement  with  the  other  Kef  ormed 
Churches.  This  Assembly  composed  a  Confession  of 
Faith,  a  Directory  for  Worship,  a  Form  of  Church 
Government  and  Discipline,  and  two  catechisms.  The 
Shorter  Catechism,  for  the  instruction  of  the  young, 
was  adopted  November  6,  1G47;  and  the  Larger  Cate- 
chism, for  the  use  of  Divinity  students  and  ministers, 
was  adopted  April  14,  1648.  The  Shorter  Catechism 
is  not  an  abstract  of  the  Larger,  but  is  an  independent 


ENGLAND.  VI 

work,  corresponding  to  it  and  to  the  Confession  of 
Faith.  It  was  at  once  warmly  received  and  cherished 
as  a  clear  exhibition  of  Bible  truth  in  a  systematic 
form,  and  was  quickly  published  and  circulated  in 
other  European  countries,  and  in  America  in  the  "  New 
England  Primer."  The  first  part,  from  the  beginning 
to  the  thirty-eighth  answer,  treats  of  what  we  are  to 
believe  concerning  God,  and  contains  all  the  doctrines 
of  Scripture.  The  second  part,  from  the  thirty-ninth 
answer  to  the  end,  is  practical,  and  teaches  the  duties 
of  religion. 

London  and  its  immediate  vicinity  was  for  a  consid- 
erable time  within  the  bounds  of  the  Provincial  Synod 
of  London.  This  Synod  continued  to  hold  regular 
meetings  until  the  year  1655.  The  same  churches,  dis- 
continuing at  that  time  the  Synodical  meeting,  met  still 
as  Presbyteries,  and  maintained,  as  far  as  it  was  possi- 
ble, the  Presbyterian  government  and  discipline. 

After  the  death  of  Cromwell  and  the  restoration  of 
Charles  II.,  prelacy  was  restored,  and,  under  the  strong 
hand  of  Parliament,  was  cruelly  enforced  throughout 
the  kingdom  by  the  Act  of  Uniformity.  This  passed 
both  houses  by  small  majorities,  received  the  royal 
assent  on  May  19,  1662,  and  took  effect  on  the  feast  of 
St.  Bartholomew,  August  24,  1662.  The  terms  of  con- 
formity specified  by  this  act  were  : — 1.  Re-ordination 
for  those  who  had  not  received  their  ordination  from 
prelatical  authority.  2.  A  declaration  of  unfeigned 
assent  and  consent  to  all  and  everything  prescribed  and 
contained  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and  admin- 
istration of  sacraments  and  other  rites  and  ceremonies 
of  the  Church  of  England,  together  with  the  psalter, 


72  PKESBYTEKIAI?-    CHUECn. 

and  the  form  and  manner  of  making,  ordaining,  and 
consecrating  of  bishops,  priests,  and  deacons.  3.  To 
take  the  oath  of  canonical  obedience.  4.  To  abjure 
the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant.  5.  To  abjui-e  the 
lawfulness  of  taking  arms  against  the  king,  or  any 
commissioned  by  him,  on  any  pretence  whatsoever. 
The  penalty  affixed  to  the  refusal  of  ministers  to  con- 
form to  these  tyrannical  decrees  was  to  be  ejected 
from  their  pulpits  and  manses  or  parsonages. 

When  the  sad  day  of  St.  Bartholomew  arrived,  two 
thousand  Presbyterian  clergymen,  full  of  their  consci- 
entious devotion  to  the  principles  of  God's  Word,  re- 
linquished their  ecclesiastical  possessions,  abandoned 
their  only  means  of  subsistence,  left  their  dwellings, 
and,  with  even  more  of  distress,  their  pulpits  and  their 
disconsolate  congregations,  and  went  forth  aliens  in 
their  own  laud,  having  no  home  to  shelter  them,  for- 
bidden to  preach  or  to  exercise  the  offices  of  their  sacred 
calling. 

Not  discoui'aged  or  crushed,  these  self-denying  fol- 
lowers of  Him  who  had  not  where  He  might  lay  His 
head,  bravely  taught  His  word,  if  not  publicly,  at  least 
from  house  to  house.  The  Presbyterian  Chm-ch, 
bui'ned,  but  not  consumed,  still  lived  in  England,  and 
now  has  in  that  country  a  firm  position  of  growing  in- 
fluence and  usefulness,  rapidly  increasing  in  numbers, 
and  affording  a  home  for  multitudes  who  fly  to  it,  on 
the  one  hand  from  a  prelacy  that  apes  Popery,  and  on 
the  other  from  a  broad  carelessness  in  doctrine  that 
opens  wide  the  door  to  infidelity.  The  Presbyterian 
Church  of  England  is  a  self-governed  body,  but  it  is 
closely  bound  in  fellowship  and  sympathy  to  the  Free 


ENGLAITD. 


73 


Clmrcli  of  Scotland.  The  United  Presbyterian  Church 
in  En2:land  is  to  this  time  a  branch  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Scotland.  It  is  believed  that 
these  churches  will  soon  unite  their  forces,  and  be  one 
in  organization,  as  they  are  in  spirit.  In  England 
there  are  now  nearly  three  hundi^ed  Presbyterian  con- 
gregations ;  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada  there  are  more 
than  five  hundred.  In  Australia,  New  Zealand,  Africa, 
the  West  Indies,  and  other  British  colonies,  there  are 
six  hundred.  In  Scotland  there  are  three  thousand, 
and  in  Ireland  not  less  than  six  hundred ;  making  in 
all,  for  Great  Britain  and  her  dependencies,  an  aggre- 
gate of  Five  Thousand  churches  and  ministers.  And, 
when  the  Church  of  England  shall  be  dis-established, 
this  number  will  be  largely  increased.  Then  shall  it 
be  seen  that  the  persecuting  violence  of  po2:)es  and  kings, 
who  in  former  days  refused  God's  Word  a  dwelling- 
place  in  the  British  Isles,  was  overruled  to  make  its 
lodgement  there  the  more  firm,  and  the  martyrs  who 
gave  their  lives  for  the  truth  again  shall  find  them, 
abiding  in  their  influence,  and  faith,  and  teachings 
evermore  in  English  homes. 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE    PEESBYTEEIAN    CHUECH   IN    SWITZEELAND. 


Ulni;  /iwmgli. 


In  Switzerland,  beautiful  with  its  valleys,  sublime  in 
its  mountains  and  precipices,  the  early  history  of  the 
assault  against  Romanism  by 
those  who,  in  the  stanchness 
of  their  faith  and  the  consti- 
tution of  theii*  church,  were 
Presbyterians,  has  much  to  do 
with  the  labors  and  heroism 
of  Ulric  Zwingli.  Born  at 
Wildhaus,  in  moderate  cir- 
cumstances, January  1,  1484, 
seven  weeks  after  Luther, 
in  the  pure,  cool  air  of  a 
green,  Alpine  region,  and  with  father,  mother,  and 
other  relatives  of  a  genial,  religious  tone,  he  grew  up 
healthy  and  vigorous  in  body  and  in  soul.  Highly 
favored  in  his  schoolmaster,  who  had  visited  Jerusa- 
lem as  a  pilgrim,  and  who  often  described  the  Holy 
Land  to  his  pupils,  he  learned  Latin  by  reading  and 
analyzing  the  best  classical  authors,  and  became  an 
adept  in  instrumental  music.  In  1499  he  entered  the 
university  at  Vienna,  and,  with  a  thirst  for  knowledge, 
became  a  proficient  in  the  Greek  poets,  in  Plato,  and 
Aristotle.  Returning,  after  two  years'  training,  to  his 
native  village,  he  finds  employment  as  a  teacher  of 
languages  at  Basel.     Here  he  is  also  soon  found  study- 


SWITZEELAND.  75 

ing  as  a  pnpil  of  Wittenbacli,  and  Leo  Juclae  became 
his  fellow-pupil.  Under  this  instruction  lie  grew 
mighty  in  the  Scriptures,  and  in  1506  was  consecrated 
as  priest  and  pastor  at  Glarus.  While  thus  laboring 
he  wrote  off  St.  Paul's  epistles  in  the  form  of  a  small 
book,  and  carried  them  about  with  him,  fixing  their 
doctrines  in  his  memory  and  heart.  War  arising,  and 
the  people  of  his  canton  marching  into  Italy,  he  ac- 
companied them,  in  1512,  and  encouraged  their  valor. 
More  and  more  alive  to  the  shameful  vices  of  the 
majority  of  the  Romish  priests,  he  was  scandalized 
when  Samson,  an  agent  for  the  sale  of  indulgences, 
came  to  Switzerland,  as  Tetzel  had  come  to  Saxony, 
and  he  uttered  warnings  against  him  and  his  system 
from  the  pulpit.  Like  Luther,  he  was  led  on  from 
this  commencement,  step  by  step,  to  attack  all  the  pre- 
vailing Romish  errors.  In  1516  and  1517  he  was 
using  in  his  own  land  the  very  w^ords  and  arguments 
which  Luther  was  wielding  in  Germany.  His  exposi- 
tions of  the  gospels  and  the  epistles  grew  in  fervor,  and 
his  sermons  became  more  pointed  and  personal.  He 
awakened  a  universal  hatred  for  indulgences,  until 
complaint  was  made  against  him  to  the  Pope,  and  he 
seemed,  like  Luther,  a  marked  and  condemned  victim. 
He  denounced  the  celibacy  of  the  clergy  as  unscript- 
ural,  and  proved  marriage  to  be  honorable  in  all. 

A  council  at  Zurich  was  called  in  1523,  to  give 
Zwingli  an  opportunity  to  defend  his  views,  and  he 
succeeded  in  having  the  appeal  made  to  the  "  genuine 
Scriptures  in  the  German  tongue  and  language." 
Zwingli  231'epared  seventy-six  propositions  containing 
the  substance  of  his  doctrine.     Before  one  hundred  and 


76 


PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


eighty  delegates  lie  prepared  to  defend  these  proposi- 
tions from  God's  Word,  against  the  Pope's  Vicar-gen- 
eral, Faber,  who  did  not  dare  to  argue  \Wth  him.  This 
was  the  first  of  a  long  series  of  victories  in  which, 
whether  the  opj)onents  appeared  or  retired,  he  demol- 
ished the  dogmas  of  auricular  confession,  the  worship 
of  images,  righteousness  by  good  works,  the  changing 
of  the  wafer  into  the  real  body  and  blood  of  Christ, 
and  the  monastic  system — so  full  of  gross  crimes. 

Some  have  lamented  that  a  sharp  contention  took 
place  between  Zwingli  and  Luther  as  to  the  presence 
of  Christ  in  the  Lord's  Supper.  At  the  time  many 
said.  See  how  these  orphan  children  now  quarrel  when 
no  longer  the  Mother  Church  keeps  them  in  check. 
The  discussion,  however,  did  good.  It  showed  that 
these  Reformers  were  free,  not  depending  on  each 
other,  nor  quoting  each  other's  words,  nor  artfully 
combining  with  each  other  to  feign  a  semblance  of 
harmony  that  did  not  really  exist ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
that  they  derived  their  views 
of  true  doctrine  from  the 
Scriptures,  and,  agreeing  in 
essentials,  feared  not  to  ex- 
hibit their  real  opinions  on 
points  of  difference. 

Other  reformers  in  Switzer- 
land co-operated  with  Zwingli, 
such  as  Farel,  Bullinger,  Lam- 
bert, OEcolampadius,  and  Wit- 
joha  Calvin.  tcubach ;    while  John   Calvin 

deserves  much  fuller  mention  as  the  greatest  theologian 
of  the  Reformed  Churches. 


SWrrZEELAND.  77 

He  was  born  at  Noyon,  near  Paris,  July  10,  1509, 
and  from  a  very  early  age  was  trained  for  the  priest- 
hood. Receiving  the  charge  of  a  parish  when  but 
eighteen  years  old,  so  constant  were  his  studies,  so  re- 
markable his  intellectual  advancement,  and  so  eloquent 
his  discourses,  that  his  father,  foreseeing  the  revolution 
about  to  occur  in  the  religious  world,  and  fearing  lest 
his  son's  zeal  and  growing  prominence  would  briog  him 
into  jeopardy,  prevailed  with  him  to  study  law  at  Or- 
leans. Grod's  hand  was  in  this  apparent  interruption  of 
his  theological  training,  for  Calvin  was  thus  to  gain  prep- 
aration for  his  future  work  of  organizing  the  churches 
upon  Scriptural  and  apostolic  foundations.  While 
attending  the  legal  lectures  by  day,  and  rapidly  gain- 
ing acquaintance  with  all  the  intricacies  of  civil  and 
canon  law,  young  Calvin  by  night  as  profoundly  read 
the  Scriptures,  and  became  mighty  in  acquiring  the 
knowledge  of  their  contents.  Enlightened  by  these,  he 
became  convicted  of  his  sins.  In  sorrow  of  soul  he 
sought  in  peace  the  masses  and  ceremonies  of  his  church, 
but  at  last,  as  he  declares,  "  the  secret  guidance  of  God's 
Providence  delivered  me  from  the  superstitions  of  the 
papacy."  After  his  father's  death,  openly  joining  the 
Reformers,  he  preached  in  Paris,  strengthening  the 
timid  believers  who  began  to  be  persecuted,  and  usually 
ending  each  sermon  with  the  words  :  "  If  God  be  for 
us,  who  can  be  against  us  ?  " 

The  doctors  of  the  Sorbonne,  a  college  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Paris,  during  the  times  of  the  Reformation 
the  most  able  and  learned  theologians  of  the  Roman 
Church,  had  just  proscribed  the  doctrines  of  Luther  ; 
and  Calvin  soon  met  their  fiercest  opposition.     Having 


78  PRESBYTErJAX   CHUECH. 

the  friendsliip  of  one  of  tbem,  upon  the  occasion  of  his 
being  chosen  as  rector,  Calvin  furnished  him  with  his 
inaugural  oration  on  the  theme,  "  Justification  by  Faith 
alone."  It  is  not  hard  to  imagine  what  power  of 
thought  and  diction  filled  this  23roduction.  The  angry 
Sorbonne  ordered  it  to  be  burned,  and,  sending  officers 
to  arrest  Calvin,  he  was  let  down,  like  St.  Paul,  from  a 
window  in  a  basket,  and  hastily  fled.  Still  unchanged, 
remaining  an  untiring  student  and  a  conscientious 
preacher  and  teacher,  ever  drawing  truth  from  its  foun- 
tain-head, and  pouring  it  forth  to  refresh  and  save  the 
people,  we  find  him  successively  at  Nerac,  Angouleme, 
again  at  Paris,  at  Orleans,  Strasbourg,  Basel,  and,  in 
1536,  at  Geneva. 

The  preceding  jescr,  when  but  twenty-six  years  old, 
he  published,  anonymously,  his  celebrated  "  Institutes 
of  Theology,"  in  French.  At  Basel,  in  1536,  the  Latin 
edition  appeared,  and  subsequent  revised  editions  were 
published  in  1539,  1543,  1545,  1549,  1550,  and  1559. 
Though  hastily  written,  it  came  from  a  mind  so  well 
trained  and  accurate,  that  it  needed  little  correction. 
The  author  found  reason  to  add  here  and  there  to  its 
chapters,  but  not  to  erase.  Says  Beza :  "  Though  pre- 
pared in  haste,  he  never  changed  anything ;  "  and  Scali- 
ger  writes  :  "  He  made  no  retractions,  though  lie  wrote 
much."  The  "Institutes"  is  in  four  books,  in  turn 
treating  of  the  knowledge  of  God  as  the  Creator  and 
Sovereign  of  the  world,  of  the  knowledge  of  God  as 
Redeemer  in  Christ,  of  participation  in  the  grace  of 
Christ,  and  the  fruits  thereof,  and  of  the  external 
means  of  grace,  namely,  the  church  and  the  sacraments, 
by  which  God  brings  us  into  and  continues  us  in  com- 


SWITZEELAND. 


79 


munion  with  His  Son.  This  system  of  theology  is  built 
upon  the  idea  of  God's  sovereignty :  "  God  in  Christ, 
reconciling  the  world  unto  Himself,  not  imputing  their 
offences  unto  them."  In  accordance  with  God's  holy 
and  wise  decrees,  the  human  race,  fallen  in  Adam's 
transgression,  suffering  from  the  guilt  and  weakness  of 
Original  Sin,  is  redeemed  by  the  coming  in  the  flesh, 
the  sacrifice,  death,  and  intercession  of  the  God-man. 
Justification  is  by  faith  alone,  and  faith  is  the  gift  of 
God. 

For  twenty-eight  years  Calvin  was  a  champion  of 
Scriptural  truth.  He  ruled  religious  opinions  by  the 
power  of  God's  Word,  not  only  in  Geneva,  but  all 
over  Europe.  He  established  the  primitive  system  of 
ecclesiastical  organization.  In  accordance  with  this 
plan  a  church  acts  through  its  bench  of  elders,  which 
orders  all  its  spiritual  affairs.  Above  this  is  the  Pres- 
bytery or  provincial  Sjniod,  in  which  every  church  is 
represented  by  its  pastor  and  one  or  more  of  its  elders, 
with  a  General  Assembly,  constituted  like  the  Synod, 
and  directing  by  its  counsels  the  entire  body  of  be- 
lievers. Under  this  simple  yet  ancient  organization, 
Switzerland  soon  took  her  place  among  the  most  highly 
favored  nations,  exhibiting  to  the  world  a  Presbyterian 
church  grand  and  imperishable  as  her  own  snow-capped 
mountains. 

The  Church  thus  constituted  has  been  greatly 
blessed  of  God,  and  now  numbers  one  million  and  a 
half  of  communicants. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


THE   PRESBYTERIAlSr    CHUPwCH   I]^    GERMAISTT. 


The  Protestants  of  Germany  were,,  and  are  still, 
Presbyterians.  The  Lutherans  of  all  branches  recog- 
nize the  equality  of  the  ministry  by  divine  appoint- 
ment, although  there  may  be  gradations  in  it  because 
of  human  necessity,  and  thus  some  of  the  pastors  be 
appointed  to  superintend  districts  comprising  many 
parishes.  Consistories  of  church  officers,  or  elders, 
chosen  from  the  people,  administer  the  affairs  of  indi- 
vidual congregations,  and  Synods  possess  the  powers  of 
supervision  over  them. 

Their  great  leader,  Martin  Luther,  to  whose  efEorts 
the  world  so  much  owes  the  religious  freedom  of  mod- 
ern  times,    was   born   in   the 
town  of  Eisleben,  in  Saxony, 
near  the  Hartz  mountains,  on 
St.    Martin's   Eve,  November 
10,    1483,    and    died    in    his 
native     town,    February    18, 
1540.     His  father  was  a  poor 
miner,  his  mother  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  plain  citizen  of  Neii- 
stadt.      At    the    age    of    six 
years  he  could  read  and  write ; 
at  fourteen  he  left  his  first  school  to  take  his  place  as 
a  scholar  in  that  of  the  Franciscans  at   Masdeburof, 


Martin  Luther. 


A 


"^ 


THE    WABTBORQ. 


GERMANY.  83 

wlience  lie  was  soon  transferred  by  his  parents  to  the 
free  school  at  Eisnach,  where  he  had  several  reLatives. 

Like  other  poor  students  of  Germany,  to  maintain 
himself  he  often  sang  from  door  to  door,  and  begged  a 
little  bread.  A  wealthy  family,  that  of  the  Cottas, 
became  interested  in  him  and  sheltered  him  beneath 
their  roof  during  his  course  of  four  years  in  the  Eis- 
nach school. 

In  his  eighteenth  year,  his  father  was  able  to  place 
him  in  the  University  of  Erfurth.  Here  he  studied 
zealously  and  profoundly.  His  attainments  in  the 
Greek  and  Latin  classics,  in  jurisprudence,  in  the  works 
of  the  fathers  of  the  church,  and  in  rhetoric  and  music, 
attracted  the  attention  and  praise  of  his  professors  and 
other  learned  men. 

After  two  years  of  study  at  the  University,  one  day, 
while  tm^ning  over  the  manuscripts  of  the  library,  he 
lighted  upon  an  old  Latin  Bible,  the  first  he  had  ever 
seen,  and  soon  he  was  absorbed  with  wonder  and  delight 
at  its  histories,  its  prophecies,  and  its  exhibitions  of  doc- 
trine. As  he  read  one  portion  after  another  with  in- 
creasing intensity  of  interest  and  emotion,  he  exclaimed : 
•*  O  God  !  could  I  have  one  of  these  books,  I  would  seek 
for  no  other  treasure." 

In  1505  two  striking  incidents  led  him  to  new 
thoughts  and  a  new  plan  of  life.  An  intimate  college 
fi'iend  was  sadly  assassinated,  and  Luther  was  led  to 
inquire :  "  What  if  I  should  be  called  to  die  thus  sud- 
denly?" 

Soon  after,  walking  near  Erfurth,  he  was  overtaken 
by  a  fearful  thunder-storm,  and,  being  quickly  encom- 
passed by  the  terrors  of  death,  he  made  what  he  sub- 


84  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

sequently  called  "  a  reluctant  and  forced  vow "  to  be- 
come a  monk.  On  July  18,  1505,  lie  entered  the 
Augustine  monastery  of  Erfurth.  Previous  to  this 
time,  John  WicldifPe,  in  England,  the  Morning  Star  of 
the  Reformation,  born  about  1324,  and  John  Huss, 
born  1373,  and  Jerome  of  Prague,  born  1378,  on  the 
Continent,  had  rebuked  the  errors  of  the  corrupt 
Romish  church,  and  had  taught  the  doctrines  of  the 
New  Testament,  claiming  the  equality  of  ministers. 
For  these  opinions  the  former  was  persecuted  and  the 
two  latter  burned. 

Luther's  progress  to  the  adoption  of  their  views  and 
to  the  maintenance  of  the  primitive  and  apostolical  order 
of  church  government  was  rapid. 

He  became  disgusted  with  the  scandalous  conduct  of 
the  po23es,  bishops,  priests,  and  nuns.  He  saw  how  the 
worship  of  Mary,  of  saints,  of  images,  had  crowded  out 
the  worship  of  Jesus.  Attempting  by  the  self-denial 
of  a  hermit  to  acquire  holiness,  he  fell  a  prey  to  sad- 
ness, to  perplexities,  to  sore  temptations  of  the  adver- 
sary. Taught  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  through  the  sen- 
tences of  his  Bible,  he  boldly  proclaimed  that  the  writ- 
ings of  the  prophets  and  apostles,  proceeding  from  God 
Himself,  were  more  profound  and  certain  than  all  the 
traditions  of  men.  Soon  he  began  to  teach  the  truths 
he  had  learned  in  an  ancient  wooden  chapel  in  the 
square  at  Wittemberg,  which  has  been  compared  to  the 
stable  in  which  Christ  was  born.  In  this  dilapidated 
building,  propped  up  on  every  side,  standing  in  an  old 
plank  pulpit  three  feet  high,  he  re-echoed  the  teachings 
of  Paul  from  the  epistles  to  the  Romans  and  the  Gala- 
tians. 


LUTHER    FINDS    THE  LATIN  BIBLE  AT  KRFITRT 


GERMANY.  87 

Setting  out  for  Rome  in  1510,  lie  there,  wishing  to 
gain  the  indulgence  promised  to  all  who  should  climb 
"  Pilate's  Staircase  "  on  their  knees,  seemed  to  hear  in 
his  heart  words  which  he  says  had  stirred  its  depths 
both  at  Erfurth  and  at  Bologna :  "The  just  shall  live 
by  faith."  Then,  leaping  to  his  feet,  as  he  fled  from 
the  staircase,  he  fled  also  from  Rome's  sinful  supersti- 
tions, and  planted  himself  more  firmly  than  ever  upon 
the  Rock  of  Holy  Scripture,  Not  long  afterwards  he 
wrote  to  Brentius :  "This  article  of  justification  by 
faith  is  what  creates  the  church,  nourishes  it,  edifies  it, 
preserves  and  defends  it." 

Returning  to  Wittemberg,  the  Elector,  Frederick, 
became  his  patron,  able  and  studious  men  sought  his 
friendship,  multitudes  listened  to  his  preaching,  and  he 
became  bold  to  attack  the  Romish  errors.  Among 
them  the  most  profitable  to  the  coffers  of  the  pope  was 
the  notion  that  souls  could  be  rescued  from  the  tortures 
of  purgatory  by  liberally  paying  money  to  his  agents, 
the  bishops  and  priests ;  while  similar  gifts  would  se- 
cure to  the  donors  the  forgiveness  of  the  worst  crimes. 

In  1517,  Tetzel,  one  of  these  agents,  coming  to  the 
city  of  Luther's  residence,  sold  vast  numbers  of  these 
indulgences,  so  that,  as  Luther  said,  "  the  money  leaped 
and  fell  tinkling  into  his  box."  One  day  a  number  of 
persons  came  to  confession  to  Luther,  and,  having  first 
acknowledged  themselves  guilty  of  the  grossest  sins, 
they  then  refused  to  perform  the  penances  he  imposed, 
showing  to  him  dijiloraas  containing  this  sentence : — 
"  I  absolve  thee  from  all  excesses,  sins,  and  crimes,  that 
thou  mayest  have  committed,  however  great  and  enor- 
mous they  may  be."     Luther  refused  to  recognize  these 


OO  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

credentials,  quoting  tlie  text :  "  Except  ye  repent,  ye 
shall  all  likewise  perish." 

The  refusal  led  to  an  oj^en  conflict  between  the  be- 
sotted and  grasping  j^apists  and  the  newly  enlightened 
Keformer,  and  caused  him  to  publish  his  celebrated 
"  ninety-five  theses."  These  propositions  Luther  nailed 
to  the  door  of  the  Wittemberg  Church  at  mid-day,  Oc- 
tober 31,  1517,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
The  ninety-five  theses  describe  w^hat  the  Saviour  means 
by  "  repentance  ;  "  they  assert  that  the  pope  can  only 
confirm  the  remission  of  sins  which  God  bestows ;  that 
no  human  pardon  can  avail  for  the  dead ;  that  '*  they 
preach  mere  human  follies  w^ho  maintain  that,  as  soon 
as  the  money  rattles  in  the  strong  box,  the  soul  flies  out 
of  purgatory ;  "  that  ever}^  Christian  participates  in  all 
the  blessings  of  Christ  and  the  church  by  God's  gift ; 
that  to  hope  to  be  saved  by  indulgences  is  a  lying  and 
empty  hope  ;  that  the  true  and  precious  treasure  of  the 
church  is  the  holy  gospel  of  the  glory  and  grace  of 
God;  that  it  is  better  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  through  much  tribulation,  than  to  acquire  a 
carnal  security  by  the  consolations  of  a  false  2)eace." 
These  "  theses  "  may  to-day  be  read  upon  the  same  spot 
to  which  Luther  nailed  them.  They  have  been  cast  in 
enduring  bronze  upon  the  ponderous  gates  that  occupy 
the  room  of  those  w'hich  formerly  received  them.  And 
thus  the  imperishable  truth  which  they  set  forth  will 
continue  to  exert  its  beneficial  power  to  all  future  gen- 
erations. 

The  declarations  thus  published  by  Luther  were  the 
germs  of  the  Reformation  which  was  to  separate  him- 
self and  a  nmltitude  of  other  Christians  from  the  papacy. 


-f4 


f 


T 


< 


^^aK^       ' 


>- 


3- 

i 


GERMANY.  91 

Soon  after  tlie  "theses"  were  written,  Luther  gave  to  the 
world  his  "  Sermons  on  the  Ten  Commandments,"  and 
his  "  Explanations  of  the  Lord's  Prayer,  for  simple  and 
unlettered  laymen."  Events  crowded  him  rapidly  for- 
ward as  the  Champion  of  a  true  faith  and  a  Scriptural 
church  order.  He  is  surrounded  by  congenial  allies, 
scholars  like  Bucer,  Melancthon,  Carlstadt ;  heroes  like 
Sylvester,  of  Schaumburg^ 
Francis,  of  Sickingen,  and 
Ulric  Van  Hiitten ;  \vhile  the 
celebrated  painter,  Lucas  Kra- 
nach,  and  worthy  Hans  Sachs, 
the  cobbler  poet,  with  designs 
and  verses,  awaken  the  Ger- 
man masses,  and  bring  good 
speed  to  his  cause. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  1520,  „>,,.. 

'  '  Philip  Me.auoitiwii. 

Luther    gains    higher    honor. 

Leo  X.  wrote  his  anathema,  the  celebrated  l)ull  of  ex- 
communication. Luther  perceived  its  emptiness ;  his 
students,  playing  on  the  word  "  hullaj''  which  means 
both  "  the  seal  of  the  pope's  declaration  "  and  a  "  bub- 
ble," called  it  the  bubble,  and,  tearing  it  in  pieces,  flung 
it  into  the  river  to  see  it  swim.  On  the  l7th  of 
November  Luther  appealed  fi-om  its  judgment;  on 
the  10th  of  December  he  marched  boldly  at  the 
head  of  a  long  procession  of  divines,  students,  and 
citizens,  to  the  eastern  gate  of  Wittemberg,  and 
there  threw  the  canon  law,  the  decretals,  the  papal 
extravagants,  sundry  writings  of  Eck  and  Emser — 
the  pope's  disputants — and  a  copy  of  the  late  bull 
into  the  midst  of  flames  kindled  like  those  in  which 


92  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

the  Romanists  burned  Christians,  amid  the  applause 
of  crowds  of  spectators. 

The  diet  of  Worms  was  a  convention  consisting  of 
the  Emperor  Charles  V.,  six  electors  of  the  empire,  one 
archduke,  two  landgraves,  five  margraves,  twenty-seven 
dukes,  besides  counts,  archbishops,  bishops,  and  others ; 
in  all  numbering;;  two  hundred  and  six  dio-nitaries. 
It  was  opened  by  the  Emperor  on  January  28th,  1521. 
It  was  a  tribunal  before  which  all  matters  of  vital 
interest  within  the  empire  came  for  decision.  The 
Reformation  was  to  be  judged  before  it  in  the  per- 
son of  Luther.  A  citation  and  safe-conduct  reached 
him,  and  at  once  he  set  out,  knowing  that  enemies 
who  thirsted  for  his  blood  would  surround  him  on 
the  way  thither,  and  while  he  should  stand  there  to 
defend  the  truth.  "  Christ  lives,"  he  exclaimed,  "  and 
I  ^vill  go  to  Worms  to  brave  the  gates  of  hell."  At 
Oppenheim  he  wrote  the  words  and  music  of  that  won- 
drous hymn,  which  he  sang  as  he  came  in  sight  of 
AVorms,  which,  echoed  afterwards  in  every  hamlet  of 
Germany,  still  a^vakens  enthusiasm  by  its  confident 
burden  : — "  Ein  Feste  Burgh  1st  Unser  Gott  :  " — 
"  Our  God,  a  stronghold ! "  Hear  his  own  words : 
"  Though  I  in  truth  was  physically  fearful  and  trem- 
bling, God  sustained  me,  and  I  replied  firmly  "  (the 
herakl  asking  him  if  he  Avould  indeed  go  to  Worms), 
"  Yea,  I  will  repair  thither,  though  I  should  find  there 
as  many  devils  as  there  are  tiles  on  the  housetops." 

Notwithstanding  this  diet  of  Worms  condemned  and 
excommunicated  him,  Luther,  successful  in  maintain- 
ing the  boldness  and  consistency  of  his  protestations, 
exerted  a  more  powerful  influence  uj^on  his  countrymen 


UVTHLR  BUKMNU   lUE  POPE'S  BULIj. 


GERMANY.  95 

than  before  against  Kome.  On  his  return,  to  save  him 
from  the  wrath  of  his  enemies,  the  Saxon  elector 
caused  him  to  be  arrested  and  taken  to  the  lofty  and 
isolated  castle  of  the  Wartburg,  which  he  called  his 
"  Patmos,"  and  from  which  he  sent  forth  a  deluge  of  able 
and  convincing  writings  over  Germany.  Here,  from 
lack  of  exercise,  he  suffered  pains  of  body  and  at 
times  depression  of  mind,  once  imagining  that  Satan 
was  before  him  to  torment  him.  Luther,  in  alarm  and 
anger,  flung  his  inkstand  at  the  apparition,  and  the  spot 
on  the  wall  blackened  by  his  ink  is  still  shown  to  trav- 
ellers. 

His  life  after  his  retui^n  to  his  more  public  labors 
was  a  succession  of  triumphs.  He  sent  forth  his  trans- 
lations of  the  New  Testament,  he  trained  by  his  teach- 
ing and  preaching  an  army  of  spiritual  champions ; 
and  the  history  of  the  church,  that  since  those  days 
bears  his  name,  is  a  history  of  the  Presbyterianism  of 
millions  who  revere  his  memory,  read  his  version  of 
the  Bible  in  his  native  tongue,  and  love  the  truths 
for  which  he  so  fearlessly  contended. 

The  Presbyterian  Family  in  Germany  gave  the  name 
of  Protestant  to  Christendom.  In  the  old  town  of 
Spires  two  noted  diets  were  convened.  The  first,  in 
1526,  refused  to  enforce  the  condemnation  of  the  diet  of 
Worms  upon  Luther  and  his  followers.  It  thus  left 
them  free  to  promulgate  the  truth.  In  1529  a  second 
diet  forbade  any  change  in  doctrine,  discipline,  or  wor- 
ship, until  the  convoking  of  a  general  council.  Against 
this  declaration,  the  Elector  of  Saxony,  the  Marquis  of 
Brandenburg,  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse,  the  Prince  of 
Anhalt,  the  Dukes  of  Lunenburg,  with  deputies  from 


96 


PEESBYTERIAIT   CHURCH. 


fourteen  cities,  solemnly  protested.  This  was  on  April 
19,  1529.  In  1530  was  held  the  diet  of  Augsburg,  in 
Bavaria.  The  "  Augsburg  Confession  "  was  here  adopt- 
ed. It  consisted  of  twenty-eight  chapters,  in  which  the 
doctrines  of  God's  word  are  set  forth.  Against  the  de- 
crees of  this  diet  that,  like  those  of  Worms,  perhaps 
with  even  greater  severity,  opposed  the  Reformers,  the 
Protestant  princes  formed  the  league  of  Smalcald,  in 
1531.  Two  years  later,  by  the  help  of  France,  Eng- 
land, and  Denmark,  the  free  toleration  of  Protestant- 
ism was  secured  for  Germany.  And,  although  the 
council  of  Trent,  maintained  as  to  its  decrees  by  the 
power  of  the  Emperor,  sought  still  to  oppose  the  suc- 
cess of  the  truth,  though  a  time  of  severe  conflict  fol- 
lowed, and  the  good  cause  trembled  in  the  balances,  its 
leaders  often  disheartened  and  perplexed,  at  last,  in 
1555,  again  at  Augsburg  there  was  concluded  the 
celebrated  "Peace  of  Religion,"  and  Germany  rejoiced 
in  permanent  religious  fi'eedom. 

The  progress  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Germany 
since  those  days  has  been  varied.  It  has  suffered  its 
declensions  from  the  influence  of  Rationalism  and  scep- 
ticism; but  a  reaction  has  occurred,  and  its  scholars 
and  students  have  abundantly  illustrated  Biblical  truth. 
It  is  now  fully  Presbyterian  in  its  system  of  Church 
Government,  with  a  series  of  Synods:  the  Circuit 
Synod,  the  District  Synod,  the  Provincial  Synod,  and 
the  General  Synod. 


CHAPTER     VII. 

THE  PRESBYTEEIAISr    CHURCH   IIST   THE     NETHERLANDS,    AND 
IN   FRANCE. 

THE  NETHEELANDS. 

At  the  present  time,  four-fifths  of  the  Protestants  in 
the  Netherlands  adhere  to  the  Reformed  Church  of 
Holland,  which  derives  its  "  Confession  of  Faith  "  from 
Zwingli  and  Calvin.  This  Presbyterian  family  is  thus 
intimately  related  to  the  Church  in  Switzerland.  It  is 
directed  by  a  consistory,  or  what  is  elsewhere  called  a 
session  of  elders;  by  classes,  or  Presbyteries,  composed 
of  the  ministers  of  several  neighboring  congregations, 
each  church  sending  one  elder  also ;  by  provincial  Syn- 
ods, and  by  a  General  Synod  which  meets  annually  at 
the  Hague.  The  seventeen  Belgian  provinces,  known 
as  the  Netherlands  or  the  Low  Countries,  were,  in  the 
sixteenth  century,  part  of  the  dominions  of  Charles  V., 
governed  by  his  viceroys.  Here,  during  two  centuries 
previously,  various  religious  reformers  had  appeared, 
among  them  Thomas  a  Kempis,  usually  named  as  au- 
thor of  "The  Imitation  of  Christ."  Here,  also,  in  Rot- 
terdam was  born  the  celebrated  Erasmus,  in  1467, 
whose  reputation  as  a  classical  scholar  was  widely 
spread  over  Europe,  As  an  author  and  a  critic,  he 
greatly  helped  the  Reformation.  His  satires  upon  the 
vices  of  the  priesthood  aided  to  awaken  the  popular 
hatred  of  the  sj^stem  that  created  and  leaned  upon  it. 
He  stimulated  a  spirit  of  research  in  the  study  of  the 


98  PEESBYTEEIAN   CHURCH. 

original  tongues  of  Scriptui-e,  and  encouraged  succeed- 
ing scholars. 

The  writings  of  Luther  were  eagerly  read  in  the 
Netherlands,  and  those  who  embraced  his  opinions 
were  severely  persecuted.  Yet  their  numbers  in- 
creased, and,  when  they  became  possessed  of  civil 
freedom  as  an  independent  state,  religious  liberty  fol- 
lowed. The  peoj)le  then  adopted  the  reformed  re- 
ligion. 

In  1555,  Charles  V.  abdicated  in  favor  of  his  son, 
Philip  II. ;  and  the  Netherlands  coming  under  his 
sway,  he  established  there 
the  bloody  tribunal  of  the 
Inquisition,  and  the  writings 
of  Luther,  (Ecolampadius, 
Zwingli,  Bucer,  and  Calvin 
were  forbidden  to  be  printed, 
written,  copied,  kept,  con- 
cealed, or  sold.  All  persons 
were  moreover  forbidden  to 
converse  or  dispute  concern- 
ing the  Holy  Scriptures,  unless 
they  were  professed  theologians. 

Then  followed  scenes  of  dreadful  brutality,  torture, 
and  slaughter,  as  multitudes  were  persecuted  and  slain 
for  clinging  to  God's  word.  Bat,  in  1566,  oj^position 
was  maintained  to  the  cruel  edicts  and  acts  of  Koman 
tyranny.  In  1572,  William,  prince  of  Orange,  became 
master  of  Holland,  and,  under  an  act  of  toleration,  the 
Reformed  religion  prospered.  Pre-viously,  in  1562,  its 
professors  prepared  a  bond  of  union  or  "  Confession," 
that  was  approved  and  revised  by  Calvin,  to  whom 


THE  NETHERLANDS. 


99 


they  sent  it.  It  was  styled  "  A  Confession  of  Faith 
generally  maintained  by  believers  dispersed  throughout 
the  Low  Countries,  who   de-  _ 

sire  to  live  according  to  the 
purity  of  the  holy  Gospel 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
Hence  the  origin  of  the  Re-  ^ 

formed  Church  of  the  Neth-  fit.'^-'^?¥l^  .  ^ 

erlands,  which  has  continued 
to  this  day  to  grow  in  num- 
bers and  influence.  This 
Church  has  sent  forth  to  all 
other    lands    emigrants    who  wnuam  oi  orange 

have  either  carried  with  them  their  own  organization, 
or  have  aided  and  strengthened  other  churches  to 
which  they  have  joined  themselves.  The  history  of 
their  struggle  with  intolerant  Rome  is  full  of  stirring 
and  exciting  interest.  Their  fearful  persecutions  under 
the  Duke  of  Alva,  and  their  glorious  triumphs  with 
William  the  Silent  for  leader,  are  worthy  the  earnest 
study  of  all  Presbyterians.  Perhaps  no  more  romantic 
acceptance  of  a  nickname  occurs  in  history  than  theirs, 
when  they  were  sneeringly  styled  "  Beggars,"  by  their 
Spanish  foes.  A  number  of  Dutch  nobles  being  gath 
ered  at  a  banquet,  and  having  drank  success  to  the 
Protestant  cause  in  generous  Rhenish  wine  and  "  Hol- 
lands," some  spake  of  this  contemptuous  ej^ithet  in 
terms  of  severe  chagrin.  "Yes,"  cried  one,  "they 
stigmatize  as  '  beggars,'  gentlemen  of  older  and  better 
l>lood  and  sterner  courage  than  themselves."  Brede- 
rode,  the  host,  rising  at  the  head  of  the  table,  replied  : 
"  Gentlemen,  nobles,  they  call  us  '  beggars  ! '     We  will 


100 


PKESBYTEKIAN   CHURCH. 


not  be  ashamed  to  wear  proudly  the  name.  Yes,  we 
will  brave  the  Inquisition,  we  will  be  true  to  our  king ; 
we  will  stand  firmly  in  defence  of  our  rights  and  of 
our  religion,  till  with  '  beggars' '  shoes  and  staff,  and 
bowl  and  sack,  we  go  forth  from  our  homes  as  beg- 
gars." Beckoning  then  to  one  of  his  pages,  he  sent  for 
the  staff,  the  wallet,  and  the  wooden  alms-bowl  of  a  beg- 
gar. Hanging  the  wallet  from 
his  shoulders,  and  filling  the 
bowl  with  Rhenish  \^dne,  as 
he  drained  it  be  shouted, 
"  Long  live  the  Beggars !  " 
y    --ffTownrj   ^  Then    rose    from    the   lips   of 

y  ^^gaj^^^       all     the    hardy    heroes    about 
'^^-^^^^^^^,^.  him    the   w^ar-cry,  "  Vivent  les 

Emblems  of  Beggars  of  HoUand.        GueUX^''      aud      thclr     Oppi'CSSOTS 

trembled  and  fell  before  the  prowess  of  the  "  wood  beg- 
gars," the  "  wild  beggars,"  and  the  "beggars  of  the  sea." 


FRANCE. 

In-  France  the  Reformed  Churches  may  find  traces 
of  their  origin  and  of  the  spiritual  life  and  power  of 
Presbyterianism  in  the  early  centuries  of  the  Christian 
era.  The  story  of  the  Vaudois  is  the  story  of  their 
fathers.  In  Southern  France,  as  early  as  the  eleventh 
century,  there  were  Reformers  before  the  Reforma- 
tion. In  Provence,  a  celebrated  troubadour  in  the 
twelfth  century  sang :  "  Indulgences  and  pardons,  God 
and  the  devil,  the  priests  put  them  all  in  requisition. 
There  are  no  crimes  for  which  the  monks  cannot  give 
absolution.  To  live  at  ease,  to  buy  the  whitest  bread, 
the  best  fish,  the  finest  wine— this  is  their  object  the 
whole  year  round.  God  willing,  I  too  would  be  of  this 
same  order,  if  I  but  thought  that  I  could  purchase  my 
salvation  at  that  price." 

In   1124  three  Christian   apostles,  Peter  of   Bruys, 

Henry,  and  Arnold  of  Brescia,  after  sitting  at  thfe  feet 

of  the  Piedmontese,  went  from  them  to  bear  the  gospel 

into  Provence,  and  to  wear  the  praise  and  the  crown  of 

martyrdom  forever.     For  an  entire  century,  a  crusade 

of   unmitigated   ferocity  fills   the   history  of   all   the 

country   which   is   now   called   France.      It   was   the 

determination  of  Rome  to  stamp  out  the  last  vestige  of 

opposition  to  her  hierarchy,  and  to  leave  none  alive  who 

mis-ht  communicate  the  infection  of  resistance  to  spir- 
ed 

itual  tyranny.  This  resolve  did  not  miscarry  through 
any  stint  of  slaying  sword  or  consuming  fire,  but  the 
faithful  instruction  of  parents  so  reared  their  sons  and 


102  PRESBYTERIAT^-    CHUECH. 

daughters  in  the  hamlets  of  remote  and  quiet  vaHeys, 
that,  previous  to  the  emancij^ation  of  Luther,  or  tlie  full 
conversion  of  Zwingli,  in  France  there  were  many  devout 
and   devoted  Christian  believers.      Amonof  these  the 

o 

venerable  Lefevre  had  already  cheered  his  pupil,  Farel, 
with  the  words,  "  My  dear  William,  God  will  change 
the  face  of  the  world,  and  you  will  see  it !  "  This  was 
the  same  Lefevre  who  long  before  had  declared  in  the 
Sorbonne,  "It  is  God  alone  who  by  His  grace  justifies 
unto  eternal  life." 

In  1519  Martin  Bucer  and  Philip  Melancthon  visited 
France  and  found  multitudes  desirous  to  be  taught 
from  the  Scriptures.  The  mother  and  sister  of  Francis 
I.,  who,  in  1515,  became  king  of  France,  were  earnest  in 
reading  the  Gospels  and  the  Epistles,  and  with  these  lov- 
ing guides  the  king  often  explored  their  trutlis.  Had 
Francis  possessed  the  piety  and  firmness  of  his  sister, 
Margaret  of  Valois,  he  might  have  been  the  religious 
leader  of  his  nation,  but  he  was  vacillating,  and  fell 
under  the  control  of  the  wily  priests.  Thus  the  story 
of  events  in  France  in  his  days  becomes  to  the  student 
a  history  of  martyrs.  Still  the  word  of  God  was  not 
bound ;  Count  Sigismund,  a  frank  and  courageous  noble, 
translated  Luther's  works,  as  they  appeared,  into  French, 
and  circulated  them  Mddely.  Pierre  Toussaint,  thrown 
into  a  foul  dungeon  and  almost  slain  there,  was  spared 
to  testify  to  the  truth,  and  to  nerve  others  by  his  own 
fervor.  Many  others  came  as  the  early  morning  stars 
to  usher  in  the  day  till  Calvin  was  given  to  France,  and 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  by  his  genius  and  piety,  was 
purified  from  error,  cemented  in  the  unity  of  the  faith, 
and  furnished  for  succeeding  conflicts. 


I 


103 


Passing  on  to  tlie  times  of  Henry  II.,  who  came  to  the 
throne  in  1547,  we  find  the  nickname  Huguenots  fas- 
tened upon  the  French  reformers.  It  means  Confed- 
erates^ and  was  affixed  to  the  evangelical  Christians  of 
France  by  their  foes,  to  stigmatize  them  as  of  a  foreign, 
republican,  and  heretical  origin.  In  1561,  in  the  little 
village  of  Poissy,  near  St.  Germaine,  the  residence  of 
the  court,  a  conference  was  held  in  which  Theodore 
Beza  and  other  Huguenot  divines  maintained  the  great 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel  in  opposition  to  the  teachings 
of  the  corrupt  priesthood.  By  means  of  these  discus- 
sions, many  of  the  bishops  and  other  clergy,  with  nu- 
merous nobles,  and  a  host  of  the  common  people,  were 
won  over  to  espouse  the  truth. 

It  is  sad  to  read  of  the  alternate  hopes  and  fears, 
successes  and  persecutions,  of  these  adherents  and  their 
brethren  who  were  ever  in  peril,  and  knew  what  it  is  to 
"die  daily." 

The  world  has  turned  pale  with  horror  at  the  fearful 
story  of  the  massacre  of  Saint  Bartholomew.  It  had 
been  preceded  by  ci\Hl  wars  in  which  Admiral  Coligny 
was  the  leader  of  the  Huguenots.  He  was  a  devoted 
Calvinist,  a  bold  soldier,  and  a  sincere  Christian. 
Henry,  the  young  king  of  Navarre,  a  Protestant,  was 
married  August  18, 1572,  to  Margaret  of  Valois,  a  Papist, 
sister  to  Charles  IX.,  the  king  of  France.  Huguenots, 
being  invited,  came  from  all  parts  of  France  to  attend 
the  nuptials,  little  knowing  what  awful  slaughter  was 
awaiting  them.  At  the  marriage,  the  bride,  who  loved 
the  young  Duke  of  Guise,  only  bowed  slightly  in  assent 
to  the  questions  proposed  to  her,  as  her  head  was  rudely 
forced   forward  by  the  king,  who  stood  behind  her. 


104  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Four  days  after  the  wedding  Admiral  Coligny  wag 
fired  upon  by  a  man  usually  called  "  the  king's  assas 
sin."  The  shot  was  not  fatal,  but  it  broke  the  Admiral's 
left  arm  and  destroyed  the  first  finger  of  his  right  hand. 
The  king  feared  lest  this  outrage  should  bring  upon  him 
the  displeasure  of  powerful  Huguenots,  especially  that 
of  young  Henry  of  Navarre,  his  new  brother-in-law. 
He  accordingly  hurries  at  once  to  Coligny 's  house,  and 
assures  him  of  his  sorrow  because  of  the  occurrence, 
and  promises  that  he  will  at  once  apprehend  and  pun- 
ish the  perpetrator  of  so  great  a  crime.  It  was  after- 
wards learned  that  the  king,  his  mother,  and  her 
younger  son,  the  Duke  of  Anjou,  had  plotted  the  death 
of  the  Admiral.  They  believed  that  if  Coligny  were 
murdered,  the  Huguenots  would  shed  blood  to  avenge 
the  murder,  and  that  their  rising  would  furnish  a  pre 
text  for  their  indiscriminate  and  universal  massacre. 
The  conspirators  were  not  fully  agreed  what  was  next 
to  be  done,  and  the  king  wavered ;  but  finally,  at  a 
given  signal,  on  the  eve  of  Saint  Bartholomew's  Day, 
August  23,  1572,  sixty  thousand  men,  armed  with 
pistols,  stakes,  cutlasses,  poignards,  knives,  and  other 
bloody  weapons,  are  hastening  through  all  the  streets, 
putting  to  death  all  the  Protestants.  The  pavements 
are  piled  with  dead  bodies:  houses,  corridors,  gates,  and 
doorways  are  everywhere  covered  with  gore ;  while  the 
river  Seine  is  deeply  tinged  with  the  blood  of  God's 
people.  Early  in  the  slaughter.  Admiral  Coligny  was 
slain  in  his  own  house  by  a  brutal  soldier,  and  his  body, 
being  flung  from  the  window  into  the  street,  was 
spurned  by  the  foot  of  the  Duke  of  Guise.  The  head 
was  cut  off  and  sent  to  the  pope,  and  the  trunk  hung  by 


FRANCE.  .       105 

the  heels  to  the  gibbet ;  and,  when  it  was  decomposing, 
and  the  king  and  his  retinue  passed  by  it,  Charles  re- 
marked, "  The  carcass  of  an  enemy  always  smells  pleas- 
antly." 

For  two  months  this  massacre  continued  all  over 
France,  desolating  its  towns  and  villages,  until  nearly 
one  hundred  thousand  Huguenots  were  butchered.  To 
commemorate  this  event,  which  the  papists  everywhere 
celebrated  with  illuminations,  bonfires,  and  festivities, 
the  pope  had  a  medal  struck.  On  one  side  is  repre- 
sented the  destroying  angel  bearing  in  one  hand  the 
cross  of  the  church,  in  the  other  the  sword  of  ven- 
geance. On  the  reverse  is  the  Pope's  likeness  and  the 
legend  Hugonottoruni  Strages^  1572. 

This  slaughter  was  not  unavenged  of  God.  Though 
the  Huguenots  were  slain  in  such  numbers,  multitudes 
remained.  They  spread  through  France  and  the 
neighboring  lands.  In  1598  a  decree,  called  the  Edict 
of  Nantes,  was  signed,  by  which  toleration  was  be- 
stowed, and  in  certain  specified  parts  of  France  all 
were  permitted  to  worship  Grod  as  directed  by  con- 
science and  enlightened  by  His  word.  Such  fi'eedom, 
however,  existed  only  for  a  time.  The  kings  and 
nobles  of  France,  sinking  down  into  shameless  vice, 
were  soon  again  the  willing  dupes  of  Romish  intoler- 
ance, and  in  1685,  Louis  XIV.  signed  the  Revocation 
of  the  Edict  of  Nantes.  This  procedure  drove  from 
their  country  half  a  million  of  her  most  intelligent, 
moral,  and  industrious  citizens.  The  act  declared  all 
further  reformed  worship  in  the  kingdom  illegal.  The 
pastors  must  quit  the  realm  within  a  fortnight,  and, 
meantime,  would   be   allowed   to   perform  no  clerical 


106  PIIESBTTEEIAN    CHURCH. 

function,  on  pain  of  being  sent  to  the  galleys.  All 
ministers  abandoning  their  faith  were  to  be  entitled  to 
a  salary  one-third  greater  than  formerly,  with  a  rever- 
sion of  a  moiety  to  their  widows.  A  dispensation  from 
academical  studies  would  be  given  to  those  who  wished 
to  practice  at  the  bar.  Parents  must  not  instruct  their 
children  in  the  Eeformed  religion,  but  must  have  them 
christened  in  Romish  churches  on  pain  of  five  hundred 
livres  fine.  All  refugees  were  ordered  to  return  to 
France  within  four  months,  or  forfeit  their  property. 
All  reformed  Christians  were  forbidden  to  emis^rate 
under  penalty  of  the  galleys,  if  men,  or  seclusion  for 
life,  if  women.  All  laws  against  relapsed  heretics  were 
by  the  act  re-confirmed. 

As  soon  as  these  intolerant  orders  were  published, 
all  civilized  nations  began  to  receive  the  throngs  of 
Huguenots  that  fled  from  home  and  property,  and  with 
their  lives  in  their  hands  sought  freedom  to  worship 
God.  France  afterwards  bitterly  repented  this  crime. 
Through  successive  revolutions  one  barrier  of  religion 
after  another  was  broken,  and  a  tide  of  infidelity  and 
sin  desolated  the  land. 

But  amid  the  national  ruin,  God  has  kindly  pro- 
tected His  church.  There  are  now  in  the  old  homes  of 
the  Huguenots,  a  very  large  number  of  sincere  Chris- 
tians, who  are  one  in  faith,  and  in  primitive  discipline 
and  worship  with  the  Presbyterians  of  other  countries. 
And  by  their  prayers  and  labors  the  French  Evangeli- 
cal church  is  rapidly  gaining  in  strength,  in  members, 
in  resources ;  and  promises  in  the  future  greatly  to 
bless  the  people  of  beautiful  France. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE   PRESBYTEEIAN    CHURCH   IIST     AUSTRIA   AND    HUNGARY. 

In"  Austria,  as  in  England  and  in  most  other  coun- 
tries of  Europe,  the  political  changes  of  society  had 
very  much  to  do  with  the  success  or  hindrance  of  evan- 
gelical religion. 

The  pure  and  primitive  administration  of  the  church 
of  Christ  must  have  prevailed  at  a  very  early  period  in 
the  regions  now  collected  under  one  empire  as  Austria. 
Moravia,  Bohemia,  and  Silesia  sheltered,  it  is  believed, 
some  of  the  earliest  Christians  who,  in  the  times  suc- 
ceeding the  apostles,  fled  from  persecution,  and  who 
brought  with  them  the  apostolic  faith  and  simple  church 
order  in  which  they  were  reared. 

Besides  Hungary,  Bohemia  is  properly  included  in 
any  sketches  of  Presbyterianism  in  Austria,  on  account 
of  its  proximity,  and  the  sympathy  which,  in  religious 
matters,  existed  between  the  people  of  Austria  and 
those  of  Bohemia.  Together  the  believers  of  Bible 
truth  in  these  territories  suffered  and  struggled.  When 
there  was  prosperity  in  one  quarter,  all  enjoyed  the 
same  ;  while  reverses  brought  persecution  and  exile  not 
merely  to  those  first  assailed,  but  to  all  the  rest  who 
accepted  their  faith  and  practised  their  worship. 

Bohemia  and  Moravia,  in  very  early  times,  received 
the  Gospel  from  an  Eastern  source,  for  two  Greek 
monks — Methodius  and  Constantine — are  said  to  have 
visited  these  countries  in  the  year  862,  and  to  have 


108  PEESBYTEEIAN    CHURCH. 

been  greatly  successful  iu  introducing  Christianity 
among  the  people. 

Among  the  noble  reformers  of  Bohemia,  the  most 
prominent  is  John  Huss,  who  was  born  at  Hussinetz, 
July  6,  1373. 

He  was  liberally  educated,  and  was  graduated  at  the 
university  of  Prague,  in  1393.  From  the  position  of 
lecturer  in  philosophy,  he  became  president  of  the  fac- 
ulty of  Theology  in  the  university,  in  1401 ;  and  soon, 
as  preacher  in  a  chapel  which  had  been  established  for 
this  purpose,  faithfully  expounded  the  Scriptui'es  in 
the  Bohemian  tongue.  Here  he  became  the  leader  and 
adviser  of  all  who  were  disgusted  with  the  misconduct 
and  intolerance  of  the  papacy. 

Preaching  boldly  against  the  vices  of  ecclesiastics, 
maintaining  the  propriety  of  bringing  all  religious 
opinions  to  the  test  of  Scripture  authority,  devoting 
his  talents  to  purifying  the  church  and  condemning 
error,  he  soon  was  by  the  pope  denounced  as  a  heretic, 
and,  being  tried  and  condemned  at  Rome,  although 
still  remaining  at  Prague,  was  excommunicated. 

A  long  contest  resulted,  in  which  Huss  sent  forth 
volume  after  volume.  In  his  works  he  proved  the  sin- 
fulness of  withholding  God's  'Word  from  the  people,  of 
auricular  confession,  of  venerating  images,  of  praying  for 
the  dead,  of  transubstantiation,  of  elevating  one  order  of 
the  clergy  in  rank  and  authority  above  their  brethren. 

Such  multitudes  read  his  writings  and  became  his 
followers  that  his  enemies  resolved  to  crush  him,  and 
Huss  was  cited  to  appear  before  a  general  council 
at  Constance.  Here,  notwithstanding  a  safe-conduct 
granted  him  by  the  emperor,  he  was  imprisoned,  and 


AUSTRIA   AND   HUNGAEY.  109 

tlireatened  witli  death  unless  lie  would  recant.  Boldly 
facing  Lis  accusers,  day  after  day  he  maintained  his 
positions  by  arguments  drawn  from  God's  Word. 

But  his  doom  was  already  resolved  upon.  When  it 
was  clear  that  Huss  could  neither  be  alarmed  nor  cajoled 
into  yielding  to  them,  his  foes  condemned  him  to  be 
burned,  and  on  July  6,  1415,  he  was  led  from  the  city 
of  Constance  to  a  field  wliere  the  stake  was  set  for  his 
execution.  Here,  summoned  again  to  abjure  his  her- 
esies, he  sang  the  chant,  "  Jesus,  have  mercy,"  until  the 
flames  suffocated  him. 

Jerome  of  Prague,  a  distinguished  co-laborer  with 
Huss,  was  born  about  1378.  Visiting  the  "universities  of 
Cologne,  Heidelberg,  Paris,  and  Oxford,  from  the  writ- 
ings of  WicklifEe  he  became  acquainted  with  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Bible.  In  1408  he  openly  took  sides  with 
John  Huss,  and  with  him  assailed  the  prevailing  errors 
of  the  Romanists.  The  same  martyrdom  also  awaited 
him,  and,  on  May  30, 1416,  he  was  burned  at  the  stake. 

The  Scriptural  teachings  of  John  Huss  and  Jerome 
df  Prague  produced  an  effect  so  powerful  in  Bohemia, 
Hungary,  and  Austria,  that  great  multitudes  obeyed 
them.  Upon  the  breaking  forth  of  the  Reformation, 
as  early  as  the  year  1519,  the  followers  of  John  Huss 
in  Bohemia  opened  a  correspondence  with  Luther,  and 
in  the  most  affectionate  terms  bade  him  to  be  of  good 
cheer,  and  to  persevere  in  his  work,  since  there  were  a 
multitude  among  them  praying  day  and  night  for  the 
success  of  his  cause. 

In  1522  several  Hungarians,  who  had  received  their 
education  at  Wittemberg,  introduced  the  doctrines  of 
the   Bible  as  taught  by  Luther.     Reformed  chm-ches 


110  PEESBYTEEIAN   CHURCH. 

were  organized,  and  many  preachers  of  the  truth  were 
raised  up.  But  a  storm  of  persecution,  instigated  by 
the  papists,  scattered  these  congregations,  and  di'ove 
their  pastors  to  other  lands. 

In  Austria  the  Gospel  made  such  progress  that,  in 
1530,  when  Luther's  writings  reached  the  people,  the 
Komish  bishop  proposed  to  lay  down  his  office.  It  was 
estimated  that  not  one  person  in  thirty  remained  firm 
in  adherence  to  the  Eomish  church.  Old  and  young 
alike  showed  their  deej)  interest  in  the  Reformed  doc- 
trines. The  cloisters  were  empty,  and  the  monks  be- 
came the  scorn  of  the  people. 

This  condition  of  the  popular  mind,  so  favoi-able  to 
the  prosperity  of  evangelical  Christianity,  was  the 
promise  of  an  apparent  victory  that  the  Providence  of 
God  strangely  delayed.  The  choice  of  Frederick  V., 
Elector  Palatine,  as  King  of  Bohemia,  seemed  a  favora- 
ble event.  It,  however,  led  to  the  sad  and  devastating 
"  thirty  years'  war,"  duiing  which  the  national  princi- 
ple, patriotism,  was  arrayed  against  the  religious  senti- 
ments and  principles  just  beginning  to  gain  ground. 
At  the  instigation  of  the  Jesuits,  the  whole  power  of 
the  emj^ire,  including  the  army,  was  employed  to  crush 
out  the  converts  to  evangelical  faith.  Persecution 
drove  forth  numbers  of  these  Christians  to  other  lands. 
The  sufferings  of  the  friends  of  the  primitive  faith  in 
Styria,  Moravia,  and  Carinthia,  have  filled  volumes. 

When  Frederick  V.  was  crowned,  in  1619,  his  sub- 
jects expected  protection  for  their  religious  principles. 
But,  vanquished  by  the  forces  of  the  emperor  in  1620, 
near  Prague,  he  lost  not  only  his  new  kingdom,  but  his 
ancient   hereditary   dominions,    and   went   into    exile, 


AUSTEIA   AND    nUNGARY.  Ill 

while  his  poor  subjects  were  crushed  beneath  the  tyr- 
anny of  the  Roman  pontiff. 

The  thirty  years'  war  was  concluded  by  the  peace  of 
Westphalia,  so  called  because  it  was  signed  within  that 
country  ;  and  the  Reformed  churches  were,  by  its  arti- 
cles, protected  against  attacks  by  war. 

But,  notwithstanding  these  agreements,  the  popes 
and  their  subordinates  hindered,  as  far  as  they  were 
able,  all  the  evangelical  Christians  as  to  their  rights, 
advantages,  and  privileges.  In  Hungary,  especially, 
for  ten  years,  from  1671  to  1681,  there  were  sad  perse- 
cutions. Noble  families  were  separated,  some  were  put 
to  death,  others  fared  miserably  in  noisome  prisons. 
Churches  and  schools  were  taken  from  their  pastors 
and  teachers,  and  every  means  was  employed  to  drive 
to  other  lands  the  readers  of  the  Scriptures. 

Since  those  dark  days,  Austria  has  been  decidedly 
given  over  to  the  Roman  power.  Its  various  depend- 
encies have  also  shared  its  servitude  to  the  papacy. 
And  yet  the  seed  of  the  church  within  it  is  not  incon- 
siderable. In  Austria  there  are  not  less  than  fifty 
thousand  who  *may  be  counted  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Lutheran  and  Reformed  churches ;  while  in  Hungary 
nearly  three  millions  adhere  to  their  doctrines  and 
worship.  And,  as  the  influence  of  government,  each 
day  becoming  more  liberal,  extends  itself ;  and,  as  the 
power  of  the  papacy  declines,  it  is  not  improbable  that 
a  great  multitude  will  arise  to  represent  the  blessed 
martyrs  ^\^ho,  in  those  lands,  laid  down  their  lives  for 
Christ,  to  love  the  Bible  which  they  loved,  to  practise 
the  obedience  to  its  precepts  of  which  their  lives  fur- 
nished bright  examples. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

EAELT    DAYS     OF    THE     PRESBYTERIAJS"     CHURCH    IIS" 
AMERICA. 

Two  hundred  years  ago  America  was  tlie  promised 
land  of  refnge  for  persecuted  and  suffering  Christians 
of  every  Eui'opean  nation.  Hence,  in  tracing  the  early 
history  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  America,  we  find 
among  its  fathers  and  mothers  sturdy  Hollanders,  en- 
terprising English,  enthusiastic  Huguenots,  the  ardent 
Irish,  the  persevering  Scotch. 

The  first,  however,  who  planted  chui'ches  with  a 
Presbyterian  form  of  government  and  a  Scriptural 
Confession  of  Faith  were  the  Dutch.  Their  own  coun- 
try enjoyed  at  this  time  full  religious  freedom,  but 
commercial  enterprise  brought  them  to  the  new  world. 
Some  date  the  organization  of  their  church  at  New 
Amsterdam  (New  York)  as  early  as  1619,  though  they 
may  not  have  had  a  pastor  until  1628. 

In  the  half-century  of  the  Dutch  rule  in  New  York, 
their  church  increased  to  the  number  of  ten  thousand 
members.  The  location  of  their  nine  chui'ches  was  con- 
fined to  New  York,  Long  Island,  Bergen  in  New  Jer- 
sey, with  Kingston  and  Albany. 

In  New  England,  among  the  Puritan  settlers,  were 
many  Presbyterians.  Cotton  Mather  says  that,  previ- 
ous to  1640,  four  thousand  Presbyterians  had  arrived 
there. 

In  1646  a  synod  was  convened  at  Cambridge  by  the 


EAELY  DAYS  IN  AMERICA.  113 

general  court  of  Massachusetts,  to  establisli  a  uniform 
scheme  of  church  government.  Most  of  the  churches 
in  New  England  sent  delegates.  After  two  years,  hav- 
ing adjourned  from  time  to  time,  it  adopted  what  is 
known  as  the  Cambridge  Platform,  and  recommended 
it,  with  the  Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly,  to  the  churches.  The  Cambridge  Platform 
was  generally  accepted  by  the  churches  in  Massachu- 
setts, and  was  also  the  constitution  of  the  Connecticut 
churches  for  sixty  years.  It  recognizes  the  office  of 
ruling  elder  as  distinct  from  that  of  pastor  or  bishop, 
and  recommends  synods  much  in  the  same  terms  as 
does  the  Westminster  form  of  government.  Previous 
to  the  founding  of  the  first  Presbytery  in  America, 
groups  of  Pre^:5byterians  from  Scotland  and  Ireland  held 
services  together  in  private  houses  in  the  neighborhood 
where  they  found  a  home.  As  early  as  1662  the  peo- 
ple of  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  had  public  worship  regu- 
larly established ;  and  some  deem  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  this  town  to  be  the  oldest  in  America. 

Between  the  years  1670  and  1680,  Scotch  Presbyte- 
rians settled  on  the  eastern  branch  of  Elizabeth  River, 
in  Virginia,  and  had  with  them  a  minister  from  Ire- 
land, who  died  in  1683.  Later,  a  hundred  families 
from  Ireland  settled  Londonderry,  in  New  Hampshire, 
bringing  with  them  the  Kev.  James  McGrregore  as  their 
pastor,  who  faithfully  and  affectionately  laboi'ed  for 
their  good. 

In  the  lower  counties  of  Maryland,  on  the  eastern 
shore,  as  early  as  1680  several  houses  of  worship  had 
been  erected  by  Presbyterian  refugees.  In  1680,  a  let- 
ter from  one  of  them.  Colonel  William  Stevens,  was 


114  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

laid  before  Laggan  Presbytery,  in  Ireland,  in  wliicli  a 
minister  was  asked  for,  to  labor  in  Maryland. 

Next  year,  Franci3  Makemie  was  licensed  by  this 
Presbytery,  and  in  1684  lie  organized  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  Snow  Hill,  Maiyland.  This  pioneer  of  the 
church,  a  native  of  Donegal  County,  Ireland,  was  a  man 
so  earnest,  fearless,  and  indefatigable,  that  he  perse- 
vered in  obtaining  fellow-laborers,  though  he  must  cross 
the  ocean  for  them.  John  Hampton  and  George  Mac- 
nish  returned  with  him  to  Maryland,  but  there,  strange 
to  tell,  were  forbidden  by  the  authorities  to  preach. 
Baffled  also  by  the  officers  of  the  government  of  Vir- 
ginia, who,  acting  in  concert  with  the  British  governor 
of  New  York,  the  detestable  Lord  Cornbury,  placed 
every  obstacle  in  the  way  of  Presbyterians,  Makemie 
still  persisted  in  planting  churches.  In  January,  1707, 
with  Hampton,  passing  through  New  York  on  the  way 
to  New  England  to  obtain  more  preachers  for  these 
congregations,  he  proposed  to  preach  in  the  Dutch 
church ;  but  Lord  Cornbury  forbade  him.  Mr.  William 
Jackson  invited  him  into  his  house  at  the  lower  end  of 
Pearl  Street,  where  he  preached  to  a  small  audience, 
and  baptized  a  child.  He  then  went  over  to  Newtown, 
on  Long  Island,  where  his  companion  had,  by  invita- 
tion, preached  in  the  public  meeting-house.  Here  he 
was  arrested,  and,  after  an  examination  before  Gover- 
nor Cornbury,  he  was  thrown  into  jail,  subjected  to  a 
tedious  trial,  and,  though  finally  acquitted,  obliged  to 
pay  a  large  bill  of  costs. 

This  transaction  was  a  sj^ecimen  of  acts  of  intoler- 
ance in  Maryland,  in  Virginia,  in  the  Carolinas,  and  in 
other  States,  which  disciplined  by  severe  trials  the  min- 


EARLY   DAYS    IW    AMERICA.  115 

isters  and  people  of  the  churches,  but  gave  them  the 
opportunity  to  stand  up  victoriously  for  the  defence  of 
civil  and  religious  liberty. 

The  date  of  the  organization  of  the  first  Presbytery 
is  about  the  beginning  of  the  year  1 705.  It  was  called 
the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and  consisted  of  seven 
ministers,  namely :  Francis  Makemie,  John  Hampton, 
George  Macnish,  Samuel  Davis,  Nathaniel  Taylor,  John 
Wilson, . Jedediah  Andrews. 

To  one  who  reads  carefully  the  records  of  this 
Presbytery  until  the  formation  of  the  first  synod,  in 
1717,  it  is  evident  that  a  most  watchful  and  labori- 
ous care  was  exercised  in  the  oversight  of  infant 
churches,  the  establishment  of  new  congregations,  and 
the  removal  from  the  ministry  of  incompetent  or  im- 
moral preachers. 

The  Synod  was  composed  of  three  Presbyteries 
formed  from  the  original  one,  together  with  the  new 
Presbytery  of  Long  Island.  This  latter  commenced 
its  existence  at  Southampton,  April  17,  I7l7.  The 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  numbered  six  ministers : 
Andrews,  at  Philadelphia ;  Jones,  at  Abington ; 
Powell,  at  Cohansey;  Orr,  at  Maidenhead  and  Hope- 
well; Bradner,  at  Cape  May;  and  Morgan,  at  Free- 
hold. 

The  Presbytery  of  New  Castle  had  also  six  ministers : 
Anderson,  at  Newcastle;  McGill,  at  Patuxent;  Gilles- 
pie, at  White  Clay  Creek ;  Evans,  at  the  Welsh  Tract ; 
Witherspoon,  at  Appoquininy;  and  Coun,  in  Mary- 
land. 

The  Presbytery  of. Snow  Hill  numbered  but  three 


116  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

members:  Davis,  in  Delaware;  Hampton,  at  Snow 
Hill ;  and  Henry,  at  Rehoboth. 

The  new  Long  Island  Presbytery  consisted  of  Mae- 
nisli,  at  Jamaica ;  Purarj^,  at  Newtown ;  and  Phillips, 
at  Setauket. 

Nineteen  faithful  ministers,  scattered  over  a  wide 
region  of  country,  thus  composed  the  Synod  of  Phila- 
delphia ;  and  the  same  faithfulness  in  laying  the  foun- 
dations of  new  churches,  and  in  overseeing  those  already 
established,  which  had  marked  tlie  history  of  the  Pres- 
byteries, was  transferred  to  the  Synod.  In  fact,  as  one 
studies  its  minutes,  he  seems  to  be  reviewing  those  of  a 
Presbytery ;  for  the  Synod  constantly  regards  the 
minutest  affairs  of  the  feeblest  of  its  churches,  and 
sends  to  each  one  in  turn  letters  of  counsel  and  en. 
couragement. 

Under  its  directions,  the  Presbyteries  visited  the 
churches,  and  the  pastors  and  sessions  patiently  tilled 
their  respective  spiritual  fields.  The  Shorter  Catechism 
was  studied  in  every  dwelling  and  recited  in  every 
school.  The  Psalms  in  metre  were  everywhere  com- 
mitted to  memory,  and  were  constantly  sung  and  quoted 
as  household  words  by  the  old  and  the  young.  The 
communion  customs  that  were  of  long  standing  in 
Scotland  and  Ireland  were  in  most  places  continued. 
The  people  were  gathered  together  for  prayer  and 
preparatory  services  previous  to  the  celebration  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  and  often  continued  their  meetings  for 
a  da}^  or  more  subsequently.  Frequently  these  gather- 
ings, especially  in  Virginia  and  in  Pennsylvania,  took 
place  in  the  open  air,  in  gi-oves,  and  beneath  the  canopy 
of  the  sky.     To  tliis  temple  the  fathers,  and  mothers  in 


EARLY    DAYS    IN    AMERICA. 


11' 


Israel  of  those  early  days  were  wont  to  repair  to  enjoy 
sweet  seasons  of  sacramental  blessing  :— 

"Not  to  the  dome  where  crumbling  arch  and  column 
Attest  the  feebleness  of  mortal  hand, 
But  to  that  fane,  most  catholic  and  solemn, 
Which  God  hath  planned. " 


A  COMMUNION   GATHEniNG  IN  THE  OLUEN  TIME. 

In  1729,  the  memorable  Adopting  Act  of  the  Synod 
was  passed.  It  is  probable  that  this  act  was  suggested 
by  the  Irish  members  of  the  New  Castle  Presbytery. 
In  1727,*  the  adoption  of  a  measure  requiring  all  the 
ministers  to  subscribe  to  the  Confession  of  Faith  was 
presented  to  the  Synod  by  John  Thomson,  of  Lewes, 
Delaware.  The  New  England  members  objected,  as 
did  Andrews  and  Dickinson.     In  1728,  the  subject  was 


118  PRESBYTERIAN^    CIIUECII. 

again  brought  forward,  but  was  postponed,  as  the 
Synod  was  not  a  full  one.  In  1729,  after  much  confer- 
ence, the  act  was  adopted,  containing  this  agreement : 
"  All  the  ministers  of  this  Synod,  or  that  shall  hereafter 
be  admitted  into  this  Synod,  shall  declare  their  agree- 
ment in,  and  approbation  of,  the  Confession  of  Faith, 
with  the  Laro-er  and  Shorter  Catechisms  of  the  Assem- 
bly  of  Divines  at  Westminster,  as  being  in  all  the 
essential  and  necessary  articles,  good  forms  of  sound 
words  and  systems  of  Christian  doctrine,  and  do  also 
adopt  the  said  Confession  and  Catechisms  as  the  Con- 
fession of  our  faith." 

Little  did  the  members  of  the  Synod  then  foresee 
that,  in  a  few  years,  a  division  would  separate  them 
into  two  apparently  hostile  bands.  It  has  been  said 
that  at  this  time  many  causes  were  at  work,  which  pro- 
duced the  "  Great  Revival,"  with  its  subsequent  "  Divis- 
ion of  the  Synod." 

Emigration  led  multitudes  to  seek  for  excitement 
rather  than  instruction,  and  a  kind  of  preaching  that 
would  warm  and  enliven  their  religious  emotions.  In 
New  England,  the  close  reading  of  written  sermons,  and 
the  consequent  want  of  fervor  in  presenting  the  truth, 
has  been  given  by  some  as  the  reason  why  interest  de- 
clined in  many  congregations,  and  worldly  amusements 
absorbed  the  attention  of  the  young. 

The  low  state  of  religion  in  its  churches  was  a  cause 
of  lamentation  in  the  Synod  in  1733,  and  it 'earnestly 
recommended  that  all  the  ministers  in  punctual  family 
visitation  insist  upon  secret  and  household  worship,  ac- 
cording to  the  Westminster  Directory.  The  following 
year   inquiry  Avas  made   as  to  the  fulfilment   of   this 


EARLY   DAYS   IN   AMERICA.  119 

recommendation,  and  all  tlie  brethren  were  called  upon 
to  be  more  careful  in  examining  candidates  for  the 
Lord's  Supper. 

From  East  Jersey  Presbytery,  not  long  after,  Cross, 
"Wales,  Gilbert  Tennent  and  William  Tennent,  Jr.,  and 
Blair,  were  set  off  into  a  separate  body,  with  the  name 
of  New  Brunswick  Presbytery. 

The  Tennents  thus  mentioned  were  the  sons  of  the 
Reverend  William  Tennent,  Senior,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
who  arrived  in  this  country  in  1716,  and,  after  laboring 
for  a  time  in  the  State  of  New  York,  became  pastor  of 
the  church  at  Neshaminy,  Penn.,  in  1726. 

Here  he  established  an  academy,  afterwards  called 
"  The  Log  College."  Himself  eminent  as  a  scholar,  he 
trained  a  number  of  godly  and  useful  ministers,  among 
whom  were  his  sons,  Gilbert,  William,  and  John. 

Gilbert  Tennent  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  1703;  was 
about  twenty-one  years  of  age  when  his  father's  "  col- 
lege" was  opened,  and  soon  became  his  assistant  in 
teaching.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1726,  and  or- 
dained as  pastor  at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  in 
1727.  An  eloquent  preacher,  a  frank  and  generous 
friend,  a  diligent  pastor,  and  a  public-spirited  Presbyter 
and  citizen,  his  influence  and  usefulness  were  great. 

In  1743,  he  was  called  to  be  the  pastor  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  minis- 
tered successfully  until  his  death,  in  1764. 

William  Tennent,  Junior,  was  born  June  3,  1705,  in 
Ireland.  He  Avas  a  zealous  and  industrious  student, 
and,  after  a  preparatory  training  at  the  "  Log  College," 
studied  divinity  with  his  brother  Gilbert,  at  New 
Brunswick. 


120  PEESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

While  thus  engaged,  his  health  failed,  and  he  became 
the  subject  of  what  has  been  frequently  styled  a 
"  trance."  To  all  appearance  dead,  and  saved  from 
premature  interment  only  by  the  entreaties  and  perse- 
vering efforts  of  a  young  physician,  his  most  intimate 
fi'iend,  he  became  restored  to  perfect  health. 

He  described  thus  his  own  feelings  at  this  time : 
"  While  I  was  conversing  with  my  brother  on  the  state 
of  my  soul,  and  the  fears  I  had  entertained  for  my 
future  welfare,  I  found  myself,  in  an  instant,  in  another 
state  of  existence,  under  the  direction  of  a  superior 
being,  who  ordered  me  to  follow  him.  I  was  accord- 
ingly wafted  along,  I  know  not  how,  till  I  beheld  at  a 
distance  an  ineffable  glory,  the  impression  of  which  on 
my  mind  it  is  impossible  to  communicate  to  mortal 
man.  I  immediately  reflected  on  my  happy  change, 
and  thought,  '  Well,  blessed  be  God  !  I  am  safe  at 
last,  notwithstanding  all  my  fears.'  I  saw  an  innumer- 
able host  of  happy  beings  surrounding  the  inexpressible 
glory,  in  acts  of  adoration  and  joyous  worship ;  but  I 
did  not  see  any  bodily  shape  or  representation  in  the 
glorious  appearance.  I  heard  things  unutterable.  I 
heard  their  songs  and  hallelujahs  of  thanksgiving  and 
praise  with  unspeakable  rapture.  I  felt  joy  unuttera- 
ble and  full  of  glory.  I  then  applied  to  my  conductor, 
and  requested  leave  to  join  the  happy  throng ;  on  which 
he  tapped  me  on  the  shoulder,  and  said :  '  You  must 
return  to  the  earth.'  This  seemed  like  a  sword  through 
my  heart.  In  an  instant,  I  recollect  to  have  seen  my 
brother  standing  before  me,  disputing  witli  the  doctor. 
The  three  days  duiing  which  I  had  appeared  lifeless 
seemed  to  me  not  more  than  ten  or  twenty  minutes. 


EARLY    DAYS   IN    AMERICA.  121 

The  idea  of  returning  to  this  world  of  sorrow  and 
trouble  gave  me  such  a  shock,  that  I  fainted  repeatedly. 
Such  was  the  efEect  on  my  mind  of  what  I  had  seen 
and  heard,  that  if  it  be  possible  for  a  human  being  to 
live  entirely  above  the  world  and  the  things  of  it,  for 
some  time  afterwards  I  was  that  person.  The  ravishing 
sound  of  the  songs  and  hallelujahs  that  I  heard,  and 
the  very  words  uttered,  were  not  out  of  my  ears,  when 
awake,  for  at  least  three  years.  All  the  kingdoms  of 
the  earth  were  in  my  siglit  as  nothing  and  vanity ;  and 
so  great  were  my  ideas  of  heavenly  glory,  that  nothing 
which  did  not  in  some  measure  relate  to  it  could  com- 
mand my  serious  attention." 

Mr.  Tennent's  brother  John,  who  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, November  12,  1707,  after  his  introduction  to  the 
ministry  became  pastor  of  the  church  at  Freehold, 
New  Jersey.  He,  however,  lived  but  three  years  and 
a  half  after  his  installation. 

The  E,ev.  William  Tennent  was  his  successor,  and 
was  installed  as  pastor  in  October,  1733.  His  preach- 
ing is  described  as  most  impressive,  solemn,  and  search- 
ing, and  his  praise  was  in  all  the  churches. 

The  visit  of  Whitefield  to  America  for  the  second 
time,  in  1739,  seems  to  have  been  the  occasion  for  a 
great  separation  between  the  brethren  of  the  Synod. 
In  connection  with  numerous  evidences  of  God's  bless- 
ing upon  his  23reaching,  and  upon  that  of  the  Tennents, 
and  others  who  became  providentially  associated  with 
him,  there  were  certain  irregularities  that  gave  pain  to 
all  good  men. 

In  Philadelphia  all  the  churches  were  opened  to 
Whitefield,  and  Gilbert   Tennent  at  once  became  his 


122  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

bosom  friend.  After  liis  southern  tour  he  returned  to 
Philadelphia,  and  on  the  way  to  New  York  preached 
at  Amwell,  New  Jersey,  where  four  ministers  met  him, 
namely,  Gilbert  Tennent,  Wales,  Eowland,  and  Camp- 
bell. 

In  May,  1740,  the  Synod  convened,  and  it  soon  was 
evident  that  the  members  of  the  New  Brunswick  Pres- 
bytery were  beginning  to  act  in  direct  opposition  to 
their  brethren.  They  were  prepared  to  take  on  trial, 
to  license,  and  to  ordain,  ministers  who  were  not  eligi- 
ble under  the  Synod's  rules.  The  party  names,  "  Old 
Side  "  and  "  New  Side,"  were  fastened  upon  the  two 
parties  now  arrayed  against  each  other.  The  "  Old 
Side  "  men  were  those  who,  with  the  majority  of  the 
Synod,  demanded  that  all  ministers  subscribe  to  the 
Confession  of  Faith;  and  that  no  ministers  or  licen- 
tiates of  one  Presbytery  be  allowed  to  preach  in  the 
bounds  of  another  without  the  permission  of  the  latter. 
On  the  "  New  Side  "  were  those  who  demanded  that 
ministers  be  allowed  greater  freedom  of  theological 
views,  and  that  each  Presbytery  should  be  sovereign  to 
send  its  preachers  wherever  an  open  door  should  seem 
to  be  set  before  them. 

In  Synod,  Gilbert  Tennent  and  Samuel  Blair  read 
papers  which  showed  how  seriously  they  differed  from 
many  of  their  brethren,  whom  they  charged  with  nu- 
merous grave  defects  in  their  ministry.  The  Synod 
thereupon  passed  a  minute  solemnly  admonishing  the 
Presbyteries  and  the  ministers  seriously  to  weigh  the 
charge,  and  to  seek  to  approve  themselves  to  God  iu 
the  particulars  thus  complained  of.  It  adjourned  with 
out  an  open  rupture. 


EARLY    DAYS    IN    AMERICA.  123 

The  Synod  met  again  in  May,  1741,  to  find  tlie  "  Old 
Side  "  and  the  "  New  Side  "  more  than  ever  separated 
in  their  views  and  acts.  The  New  Brunswick  Presby- 
tery, the  smallest  and  youngest  one,  had  three  licen- 
tiates and  one  minister  on  its  list,  which  the  Synod 
could  not  accept  without  laying  aside  its  authority. 

Twenty-six  ministers  and  eighteen  elders  were  pres- 
ent. The  whole  of  the  New  York  Presbytery  was  absent, 
probably  anticipating  a  breach  that  they  could  not  heal. 
A  protest  was  prepared  and  brought  in  by  Kobert  Cross, 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  wath  these  points  : 

1.  The  indispensable  duty  of  Synod  to  maintain  the 
doctrines  as  found  in  the  standard  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly. 

2.  That  no  minister  or  elder  sit  and  vote  in  Synod 
who  does  not  receive  these  standards. 

3.  That  those  brethren  who  have  opposed  the 
"  Adopting  Act  "  have  no  right  to  be  accounted  mem- 
bers of  Synod. 

4.  That  while  they  remain  in  Synod  all  its  acts  are 
of  no  force. 

5.  If  they  and  their  adherents  continue  in  their  pres- 
ent course,  those  who  maintain  the  rights  of  this  judi- 
catory are  the  true  Presbyterian  Church.  All  others 
are  guilty  of  schism. 

To  this  protest  were  affixed  several  reasons,  and  the 
whole  was  signed  by  a  majority  of  the  Synod. 
Whereupon  the  minority  withdrew,  and  there  were  two 
judicatories  opposed  to  each  other,  more  by  reason  of 
prejudice  and  unhappy  discussion  than  by  reason  of 
•difference  in  doctrine.  These  were  the  Synod  of  Phil- 
adelphia and  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick. 


124  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

The  latter  body  organized  the  Presbytery  of  London- 
derry, and  the  two  Presbyteries  were  required  to  meet 
at  Philadelphia  in  August,  1741,  in  the  capacity  of  a 
synod.  The  synod  which  grew  from  this  division  was 
called  the  Synod  of  New  York.  In  1 745,  being  fully 
constituted,  it  adopted  the  following  plan  and  founda- 
tion : 

1.  The  adoption  of  the  Westminster  Confession  of 
Faith,  with  the  Larger  and  Shorter  Catechisms ;  and 
the  approval  of  the  Westminster  Directory. 

2.  Matters  of  discipline  and  those  relating  to  the 
peace  and  good  order  of  the  churches  to  be  determined 
by  the  majority. 

3.  The  brethren  to  deal  with  those  in  error  accoi-ding 
to  the  rules  of  the  Gospel  and  the  known  methods  of 
discipline. 

4.  All  to  be  admitted  of  competent  ministeriat 
kno^vledge  and  known  orthodoxy,  piety,  and  diligence, 
and  willingness  to  submit  to  discipline. 

Both  synods  labored  earnestly  for  the  good  of  the 
churches  committed  to  their  care,  and,  after  numerous 
friendly  conferences,  agreed  to  unite  in  1 758. 

At  this  time  the  Synod  of  New  York  had  five  Pj-es- 
byteries,  namely :  Suffolk,  New  York,  New  Brunswick, 
Abington,  and  New  Castle. 

The  Synod  of  Philadelphia  comprised  three  Presby- 
teries, namely :  Philadelphia,  Donegall,  and  (another) 
New  Castle. 

The  new  reunited  Synod  met  in  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Church,  Philadelphia,  under  the  name  of  The 
Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia.  At  this  first 
meeting   there  were   present   forty-two   ministers  and 


EAELY    DAYS    IN    AMERICA.  125 

fourteen  ruling  elders.  The  noble  declaration  of  union 
under  wliicli  the  Synod  began  ends  with  these  memora- 
ble words :  "  The  Synod  agree  that  all  former  differ- 
ences and  disputes  are  laid  aside  and  buried ;  and  that 
no  future  inquiry  or  vote  shall  be  proposed  in  this 
Synod  concerning  these  things;  but  if  any  member 
seek  a  synodical  inquiry  or  declaration  about  any  of  the 
matters  of  our  past  differences,  it  shall  be  deemed  a 
censurable  breach  of  his  agreement,  and  be  refused, 
and  he  be  rebuked  accordingly." 

Thus  commeiiced  a  steady,  rapid,  and  permanent  en- 
largement of  the  churches  under  the  S}Tiod  of  New 
York  and  Philadelphia,  which  was  the  highest  judica- 
tory of  the  church  from  1758  to  1789,  when  the  meet- 
ing of  the  First  General  Assembly  took  place. 

The  progress  of  the  church  during  the  first  half-cen- 
tury of  its  American  history  was  full  of  success.  Not- 
withstanding poverty,  the  neglect  of  the  churches  in 
the  mother  country,  and  the  tyranny  of  royal  governors, 
desirous  of  securing  an  established  church,  her  course 
was  onward  and  upward.  Bright  names  adorn  these 
early  days.  Among  them,  Makemie,  and  Bostwick, 
and  Rodgers,  and  Davies. 

David  Bostwick,  a  native  of  New  Milford,  Conn., 
after  lalioring  ten  years  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  be- 
came pastor  in  New  York.  Full  of  zeal,  solemnity, 
and  eloquence,  he  was  an  able  and  useful  preacher  of 
the  New  Testament.  With  superior  puljiit  talents, 
piety,  and  prudence,  he  had  a  strong  hold  on  public 
esteem. 

John  Rodgers,  born  in  Boston  in  1727,  as  a  boy 
heard  Whitefield  preach  at  night  on  the   court-house 


126  PRESBTTEKIAl^q-    CHURCH. 

steps  in  Philadelphia,  with  such  absorbed  interest,  that 
he  dropped  from  his  hand  a  lantern  which  he  was  hold- 
ing for  the  use  of  the  preacher.  Long  settled  in  Mary- 
land, in  17G5  he  became  pastor  of  the  church  in  New 
York,  and  labored  there  with  unchanging  success,  until 
he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his 
age,  and  the  sixty -fourth  year  of  his  ministry.  He  was 
the  Moderator  of  the  First  General  Assembly,  a  power- 
ful preacher,  a  devout  Christian,  an  example  for  spirit- 
uality of  life  and  devoted  consecration  in  the  work  of 
winning  souls. 

Samuel  Davies,  a  native  of  Delaware,  converted  at 
the  age  of  twelve  in  1736,  under  the  preaching  of  Gil- 
bert Tennent,  pursued  his  studies  amid  animating  relig- 
ious scenes.  He  often  listened  to  Whitefield,  Blair, 
Kobinson,  the  Tennents,  and  Kowland. 

After  his  ordination  he  labored  with  great  success  in 
Maryland,  in  Virginia,  and  in  Delaware. 

In  1753,  he  visited  Great  Britain  to  solicit  and  re- 
ceive contributions  for  Nassau  Hall. 

Returning  home,  in  abundant  labors  he  was  instru- 
mental in  the  conversion  of  multitudes.  His  long 
preaching  tours  were  full  of  evidences  of  God's  favor, 
and  amid  his  large  congregations  were  many  poor 
negroes  who  with  joy  received  from  his  lips  the  Gospel 
tidings.  He  was  elected  President  of  the  College  of 
New  Jersey  in  1758,  and  applied  himself  to  his  work 
in  that  relation  assiduously  and  honorably,  until  he  was 
called  home  in  1761.  What  he  said  of  Hervey  has 
been  applied  to  himself :  "  Blessed  be  God  that  there 
was  such  a  man  on  this  guilty  globe !  " 


CHAPTER  X. 

SKETCIIES  OF   LATER   PRESBYTEEIAN   inSTOEY  IN  AMEPJCA. 

TiiE  year  1789,  memorable  as  to  tlie  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  which  in  March  of  that  year  went 
into  operation,  is  also  to  be  remembered  as  the  year  in 
which  convened  the  first  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States  of  America. 
This  met  in  the  Second  Church,  Philadelphia,  and  was 
opened  with  a  sermon  by  Dr.  John  Witherspoon,  Presi- 
dent of  Princeton  College,  and  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  of  1776. 

Twelve  Presbyteries  were  represented  in  this  first 
Assembly:  namely,  Suffolk,  Dutchess  County,  New 
York,  New  Brunswick,  Philadelphia,  New  Castle, 
Lewes,  Baltimore,  Carlisle,  Bedstone,  Lexington, 
Transylvania.  There  were  besides  four  with  no  repre- 
sentatives present  in  the  Assembly :  namely,  the  Pres- 
byteries of  Hanover,  Abingdon,  Orange,  and  South 
Carolina.  These  sixteen  Presbyteries  were  grouped 
into  four  Synods :  the  Synods  of  New  York  and  New 
Jersey,  Philadelphia,  Virginia,  and  the  Carolinas. 

The  Bev.  Dr.  John  Bodgers,  of  New  York,  was 
chosen  Moderator  of  this  Assembly,  and  it  proceeded  to 
its  solemn  work  in  the  most  humble,  serious,  and 
earnest  manner.  As  the  first  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  under  the  new  Constitution,  was  then  in  session 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  it  was  deemed  appropriate  to 
draft  and  send  an  addi'ess  to  George  Washington,  the 


128  PHESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

President.  This  document  was  wortliy  of  its  source, 
and  received  from  Washington  a  modest  and  grateful 
reply. 

Among  the  acts  of  this  Assembly  is  one  adopting 
measures  to  preserve  faithful  and  correct  impressions 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  To  effect  this  a  committee,  of 
one  from  each  Presbytery,  was  appointed  to  bring  the 
subject  to  the  attention  of  the  churches,  and  to  aid  by 
subscriptions  a  gentleman  of  New  Jersey  who  was  en- 
gaged in  printing  a  new  edition  of  the  Bible.  The 
work  of  Missions,  which  had  not  been  previously  neg- 
lected, was  assumed  with  renewed  vigor.  A  committee 
was  appointed  to  prepare  a  minute  with  reference  to 
sending  missionaries  to  the  frontier  settlements.  Meas- 
ures were  taken  to  secure  the  attendance  of  commis- 
sioners from  all  the  Presbyteries,  and  to  infuse  interest 
and  zeal  into  all  the  churches.  The  following  Assem- 
bly perfected  the  missionary  plan,  and  sent  two 
missionaries,  Messrs.  Hart  and  Ker,  into  New  York 
and  Northern  Pennsylvania,  who  were  everywhere 
received  with  respect  and  affection,  and  whose  labors 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  churches  that  still  flourish. 

In  1793,  upon  the  subject  of  slavery,  the  General 
Assembly  declares  that  it  has  taken  every  step  which 
its  members  deem  expedient  or  w^ise  to  encourage 
emancipation,  and  to  render  the  state  of  those  who  are 
in  slavery  as  mild  and  tolerable  as  possible. 

The  original  edition  of  the  Confession  of  Faith  and 
the  Catechisms,  issued  by  the  Synod  of  New  York  and 
New  Jersey,  published  in  1789,  was  revised  by  suc- 
cessive Assemblies,  and  widely  distributed. 

Before  the  close  of  the  century  the  original  sixteen 


LATER   AMERICAIN'   HISTORY.  129 

Presbyteries  had  increased  to  twenty-six,  with  nearly 
five  hundred  chm-ches,  and  three  hundred  ministers 
under  their  care. 

In  1799  and  1800  there  were  great  revivals  of  re- 
ligion in  Kentucky,  Central  and  "Western  New  York, 
and  New  England. 

At  tlie  formation  of  the  General  Assembly  the  strength 
of  the  church  lay  in  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  as 
these  two  States  embraced  more  than  half  its  churches, 
and  nearly  half  its  ministers.  At  Newai-k  the  digni- 
fied, learned,  and  eloquent  McWhorter ;  at  Princeton 
the  venerable  and  useful  Withersjioon,  were  still  spared. 
At  Orange  was  the  pious,  urbane,  and  acceptal)le  Chap- 
man; at  Freehold,  Wood  hull ;  at  Trenton,  Armstrong; 
at  Woodbridge,  Azel  Koe;  at  Woodbridge  Second^ 
(Metuchen,)  Cook;  Richards,  at  Eahway;  Elmer,  at 
New  Providence ;  Joline,  at  Mendham  ;  Reed,  at  Bound 
Brook ;  Smith,  at  Cranbury ;  Joseph  Roe,  at  Penning- 
ton ;  Clark,  at  Allen  town ;  Boyd,  at  Lamington ;  Wilson, 
at  Independence  and  Mansfield ;  Condict,  at  Hardwick  ; 
Johnes,  at  Morristown ;  and  Monteith,  at  New  Bruns- 
wick. 

In  Philadelphia  Presbytery  was  the  thoroughly 
versed  scholar  and  popular  preacher.  Dr.  John  Ewing. 
On  his  visit  to  England  he  tamed  the  controversial 
rudeness  of  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  who,  after  liberally 
applying  the  terms  rebels  and  scoundrels  to  the  popu- 
lation of  the  American  colonies,  demanded  abruptly  of 
Dr.  Ewing,  "  What  do  you  know  in  America  ?  You 
never  read;  you  have  no  books  there."  "Pardon  me, 
sir,"  said  Dr.  Ewing :  "  we  have  read  The  Rambler:'  ' 

In  charge  of  the  Second  Church  was  Dr.  James  Sproat, 


130  PRESBYTERIAN"   CHURCH. 

a  master  of  the  art  of  persuasion,  wlio  fell,  with  Lis 
family,  the  victim  of  yellow  fever. 

Tlie  pastor  of  the  Third  Church  was  the  bold,  fear- 
less, and  uncompromising  Dr.  George  Dufiield.  Dr. 
William  M.  Tennent,  grandson  of  the  elder  William 
Tennent,  was  pastor  of  the  three  congregations,  Abing- 
ton,  Norristown,  and  Providence.  At  Deep  Run  was 
James  Grier,  of  whom  one  said  "  it  was  impossible  to 
hear  him  preach  and  refrain  from  tears."  Symonton 
was  at  Great  Valley ;  Peppard,  at  Allentown ;  Boyd, 
at  Newtown  and  Bensalem ;  Watt,  at  Cape  May ; 
Faitoute,  at  Greenwich  ;  Hunter,  at  Woodbury ;  and 
Irwin,  at  Neshaminy. 

In  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  was  the  pati'iarch,  John 
Elder,  pastor  of  Paxtou  and  Derry,  who,  often  exposed 
to  the  invasions  of  Indians,  knew  what  it  was  to  have 
his  gun  by  his  side  in  his  pulpit. 

At  Carlisle  were  Nisbet,  President  of  Dickinson  Col- 
lege, and  Davidson,  pastor  of  the  church.  The  former 
was  singularly  fearless  in  the  discharge  of  dut}^.  On 
one  occasion  during  the  Revolutionary  war  he  delivered, 
on  a  public  fast  day,  a  sermon  very  unacceptable  to  the 
members  of  the  town  council  of  Montrose,  from  which 
pastorate  he  was  called  to  Carlisle.  The  members  of 
the  council,  soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  sermon, 
rose  in  a  body  and  left  the  church.  Stretching  forth 
his  hand  to  the  seat  which  they  had  just  vacated,  he 
said  with  emphasis,  as  they  vidthdrew,  "The  wicked 
flee  when  no  man  j^ursueth." 

Cooi)er  was  at  Middle  Spring ;  McKnight  at  Lower 
Marsh  Creek,  and  Tom's  Creek ;  at  Mercersburg,  King  ; 
at   East    Pennsborough   and  Monaghan,   Waugh;    at 


LATEE   AMEEICAN    HISTOEY.  131 

'v\^est  Hanover,  Snoclgrass;  at  York  and  Hopewell, 
Catlicart. 

The  "  Old  Eedstone  Presbytery,"  tlie  territory  of 
wliicli  bad  been  for  thirty  years  previously  the  scene  of 
frontier  privations  and  heroic  pastoral  fidelity,  had  at 
Rehoboth  and  Kound  Hill,  Finley;  at  Lebanon  and 
Bethel,  Clark ;  at  Buffalo  and  Cross  Creek,  Smith ;  at 
Chartiers  and  Pigeon  Creek,  McMillan.  Powers  was 
at  Mount  Pleasant  and  Sewicklej^;  Dunlap,  at  Red- 
stone and  Dunlap  Creek;  Dod,  at  Ten-mile  ;  and  Barr, 
at  Pittsburg. 

In  Maryland  and  Virginia  the  Presbyterian  Church 
after  the  Revolutionary  war  began  to  prosper.  At 
the  meeting  of  the  first  General  Assembly,  the  Presby- 
tery of  Baltimore  reported  six  members  and  twelve 
churches.  Allison  was  at  Baltimore;  Keith,  at  Alex- 
andria ;  Balch,  at  Georgetown ;  Hunt,  at  Bladensburg 
and  Calvin  John ;  Slemons  at  Slate  Ridge  and  Chance 
Ford  ;  and  Lucky,  at  Bethel  and  Centre.  The  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Baltimore  dates  from  1763.  Patrick 
Allison,  its  pastor  for  thirty-five  years,  was  graceful,  dig- 
nified, courteous,  learned,  and  judicious.  President  Smith 
said,  "  Dr.  Allison  is  decidedly  the  ablest  statesman  we 
have  in  the  General  Assembly."  Others  have  compared 
him  in  the  church  to  Franklin  in  the  state. 

At  the  constituting  of  the  General  Assembly,  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Virginia  comprised  the  two 
Presbyteries  of  Lexington  and  Hanover.  In  Hanover 
Presbytery,  Sanckey  was  at  Buffalo  Creek ;  Todd,  at 
Providence ;  Irvine,  at  North  Garden  ;  Smith,  at  Cum- 
berland and  Briery ;  Mitchel,  at  Peaks  of  Otter ;  and 
Blaii',  at  Hanover  and  Henrico.     Among  those  with- 


132  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

out  charge,  was  James  Wacldel,  immortalized  by  "Wil- 
liam Wirt  in  the  "  British  Spy,"  as  the  "  old  blind 
preacher."  In  the  little  church  of  Hopewell  Wirt 
heard  him.  He  was  blind  and  palsied,  yet  to  the 
statesman  the  most  eloquent  of  preachers.  As  he  closed 
his  picture  of  the  Saviour's  crucifixion  by  a  quotation 
from  Rousseau, — "  Socrates  died  like  a  philosopher,  but 
Jesus  Christ  like  a  God  !  " — Wirt  was  full  of  admira- 
tion. He  writes,  "  Whatsoever  I  may  have  been  able 
to  conceive  of  the  sublimity  of  Massillon,  or  the  force 
of  Bourdaloue,  had  fallen  short  of  the  power  which  I 
felt  from  the  delivery  of  this  simple  sentence.  I  had 
never  seen  in  any  other  orator,  such  a  union  of  simpli- 
city and  majesty.  He  has  not  a  gesture,  an  attitude, 
or  an  accent  to  which  he  does  not  seem  forced  by  the 
sentiment  he  is  expressing.  His  mind  is  too  serious,  too 
earnest,  too  solicitous,  and  at  the  same  time  too  digni- 
fied, to  stoop  to  artifice."     He  was  spared  until  1805. 

Lexington  Presbytery,  stretching  from  Northern  to 
South-western  Virginia,  had  six  pastors  in  1789.  The 
patriarch  was  John  Brown,  wlio  was  the  spiritual  father 
of  Dr.  McWhorter,  of  Newark.  He  was  pastor  at  Timber 
Eidge  and  Providence.  At  Bethel  and  Brown's  Church 
was  Scott,  persevering,  devoted,  patriotic.  At  Augusta, 
the  mother  church  in  the  valley,  was  Wilson  ;  at  Mossy 
Creek  and  Cook's  Creek,  Erwin ;  at  Winchestei*,  JMont- 
gomery ;  at  Companion  and  Good  Hope,  McCue ;  at 
Sliepherdstown,  Hoge. 

Among  the  new  Synods  set  off  just  previous  to  the 
constitution  of  the  General  Assembly  was  that  of  the 
Carol  inas.  Its  Presbyteries  were  known  by  the  names. 
Orange,  South  Carolina,  and  Abingdon.     One  of  the 


LATER    AMERICAN"    HISTORY.  133 

fir»^t  measures  of  this  Synod  was  action  on  an  overture 
for  publishing  Doddridge's  ten  sermons  on  Regenera- 
tion, and  his  Eise  and  Progress  of  Religion.  In  1791 
Synod  took  up  the  subject  of  Domestic  Missions,  and 
resolved  to  send  out  four  missionaries  to  destitute  re- 
gions within  and  adjoining  their  bounds.  Laborious 
and  capable  ministers  toiled  not  without  fruit  through- 
out the  Synod, — the  pioneers,  Patillo,  and  Caldwell,  the 
fearless  McGready,  the  beloved  Hall,  the  unassuming 
Hunter,  the  influential  Waddel,  the  patriotic  Brown,  the 
missionary  Robinson,  and  Wilson,  "father  of  churches." 

In  the  State  of  New  York  there  were  at  this  time 
forty  congregations.  In  Suffolk  Presbytery,  Buell  was 
at  East  Hampton  ;  Goldsmith,  at  Aquabogue  and  Matti- 
tuck ;  Woodhidl,  at  Huntington ;  Wetmore,  at  Brook- 
haven  ;  Rose,  at  South  Haven  ;  Williams,  at  Southamp- 
ton ;  Woolworth,  at  Bridgehampton  ;  Russell,  at  West- 
ham2-)ton.  Samuel  Buell  held  the  highest  rank  among  the 
pastors  of  his  day.  His  ready  wit  was  joined  to  great 
boldness  in  the  cause  of  truth.  During  war-time,  an  Eng- 
lish officer  told  him  that  he  had  ordered  some  of  the  farm- 
ers of  his  congregation  to  appear  at  Southampton,  twelve 
miles  distant,  on  the  Sabbath  day,  with  their  teams. 
"  So  I  have  understood,"  was  his  reply ;  "  but,  as  com- 
mander-in-chief on  that  day,  I  have  countermanded 
your  orders."  Of  him  President  Stiles  declared  :  "  This 
man  has  done  more  good  than  any  other  man  that  has 
ever  stood  on  this  continent." 

In  New  York  City  the  Presbyterian  congregations 
had  suffered  severely  from  the  disasters  of  war.  Both 
the  j)astors  and  many  of  the  people  fled  from  their 
homes  for  safety.     On  returning  they  found  that  the 


134  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

church  edifices  had  bee  a  empl'oyed  for  military  pur 
poses  The  Brick  Church  had  been  used  for  a  ^^rison, 
and  had  been  left  in  a  filthy  and  broken  condition. 
The  Wall  Sti-eet  Church  was  unroofed,  and  its  interior 
was  destroyed.  The  day  succeeding  "Evacuation 
Day,"  namely,  November  26,  1783,  Dr.  Kodgers  re- 
turned to  New  York,  and  soon  raised  the  necessary 
funds  to  repair  the  churches.  Three  colleague  pastors 
preached  to  the  people :  Dr.  Rodgers,  Dr.  John  Mc- 
Knight,  and  Dr.  Philip  Milledoler.  Soon  the  Rutgers 
Street  Church  was  built. 

The  Presbytery  of  Dutchess  County  was  repre- 
sented at  Lower  Salem,  by  Mead  ;  at  Pleasant  Valley, 
by  Case ;  at  Phillipi,  by  Lewis ;  Mills  was  at  Freder- 
icksburg ;  Davenport,  at  Bedford. 

The  new  Presbytery  of  Hudson  had  at  Goshen,  Ker  ; 
at  Newburgh,  Close  ;  at  Hopewell,  Freeman. 

In  Kentucky,  "  Father  Rice  "  found  a  home  as  early 
as  1783,  and,  abundant  in  labors,  was  spared  in  useful- 
ness until  the  age  of  eighty -three.  At  Lexington  Avas 
Rankin ;  at  Walnut  Hill,  Crawford ;  at  Salem,  Mc- 
Clure ;  at  Shiloh,  Craighead. 

In  1785,  Abingdon  Presbytery  was  formed  by  di\dd- 
ing  Hanover  Presbytery.  It  included  the  churches  of 
Southwestern  Virginia  and  Eastern  Tennessee.  Cossan 
was  at  Jonesborough ;  Doak,  at  Salem ;  H.  Balch,  at 
Mount  Bethel ;  J.  Balch,  at  Sinking  Spring ;  Hender- 
son, at  Westminster ;  Carrick,  at  Knoxville ;  and 
Blackburn,  at  Eusebia. 

The  Presbytery  of  Transylvania,  formed  from  that  of 
Abingdon,  had  churches  in  the  new  settlements  in 
Kentucky,  and  extended  across  the  Ohio  River.     Rev, 


LATER   AlVIEEICAN    HISTORY.  135 

Charles  Cummings  was  pastor  of  Ebbing  Spring  and 
Sinking  Spring.  The  Indians  so  often  attacked  his 
hearers,  that  he  and  they  went  to  church  fully  armed. 
On  the  Sabbath  he  would  put  on  his  shot-pouch, 
shoulder  his  rifle,  mount  his  dun  stallion,  and  ride  off 
to  church.  There  every  man  held  a  rifle,  and  the 
preacher,  laying  aside,  for  a  time,  the  carnal  weapon, 
would  handle  wisely  the  spiritual  weapons  of  warfare. 
He  was  a  John  Knox  in  zeal  and  energy  in  support  of 
his  own  church. 

The  General  Assemblies  that  succeeded  the  first, 
show  by  their  records  that  they  were  full  of  a  mission- 
ary spirit.  Methods  of  intercourse  mth  other  denomi- 
nations w^ere  adopted,  and  a  "Plan  of  Union"  was 
formed  with  the  Congregational  Churches,  by  which 
Presbyterian  congregations  might  call  a  pastor  from 
the  Congregational  Church,  who  should  still  retain  his 
connection  vvith  it ;  or  a  Congregational  Church  could 
have  the  labors  of  a  pastor,  still  continuing  to  remain 
a  member  of  a  Presbytery. 

From  year  to  year  new  efforts  were  made  to  educate 
ministers,  to  send  forth  missionaries,  to  distribute 
Bibles  and  tracts  and  religious  books.  In  1812,  minis- 
ters were  recommended  to  preach,  as  often  as  exjDedi- 
ent,  on  the  sins  and  mischiefs  of  intemperate  drinking ; 
and  the  Assembly  enjoined  special  vigilance  on  the  part 
of  sessions  with  regard  to  the  subject. 

The  year  1808  is  to  be  remembered,  because  then 
Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  in  his  sermon  as  retiring 
Moderator,  suggested  the  institution  of  a  Theological 
Seminary.  The  following  year,  the  Presbytery  of 
Philadel2)hia,  on  motion  of  Dr.  Ashbel  Green,  in  an 


136  PEESBYTERIAN   CHURCn, 

overture  written  by  liimself,  brought  the  matter  to  the 
Assembly's  notice.  In  1810,  measures  were  taken  to 
establish  the  seminary.  In  1812,  its  location  was  fixed 
at  Princeton,  a  board  of  directors  was  chosen,  and  Dr. 
Alexander  was  appointed  2)rofessor.  In  1813,  Dr.  Mil- 
ler became  his  associate;  and  in  1817, the  edifice  for  the 
students  was  first  occupied. 

From  year  to  year,  numerous  revivals  were  reported 
to  successive  General  Assemblies.  In  1816,  the  mem- 
bership was  below  forty  thousand;  in  1825,  it  is  re- 
ported as  over  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  thou- 
sand. 

In  1816,  the  Missionary  Committee  became  the 
"Board  of  Missions,"  and  the  Assembly  hailed  the 
formation  of  the  American  Bible  Society  with  gratifica- 
tion and  heartfelt  pleasure. 

In  1820,  a  plan  of  correspondence  with  the  Associate 
Reformed  Church  was  adopted ;  and  in  1823,  one  with 
the  Reformed  Dutch  Church.  In  1819,  an  authorized 
book  of  Psalmody  was  provided  for,  which  was  pub- 
lished in  1830.  The  subject  of  African  Colonization 
was  considered  by  different  Assemblies,  and  the  Amer- 
ican Colonization  Society  was  commended  to  the  confi- 
dence and  liberality  of  the  churches.  Deliverances 
were  also  sent  forth  with  reference  to  temperance,  to 
Sabbath  observance,  to  a  monthly  concert  of  pi'ayer 
for  missions,  and  to  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures 
and  a  religious  literature.  A  celebrated  paper  on  the 
subject  of  slavery,  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Ashbel  Green, 
was  passed  in  1818.  This  has  often  been  quoted.  In 
this,  the  Assembly  exhorts  the  members  of  its  churches 
to  increase   their   exertions   for   a   total   abolition   of 


LATER    AMERICAN    HISTORY.  137 

slavery,  suffering  no  greater  delay  than  regard  for  tiie 
public  welfare  truly  and  indispensably  demands. 

From  1825  to  1835  the  church  had  grown  in  num- 
bers and  strength  more  than  fifty  per  cent.  Its  four- 
teen synods  had  become  twenty -three ;  its  eighty -one 
presbyteries,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five ;  its  one 
thousand  and  eighty  ministers,  two  thousand ;  its  sev- 
enteen huudi'ed  and  seventy-two  churches,  two  thousand 
eight  hundred ;  while  its  membership  reached  to  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand. 

Auburn  Theological  Seminary  was  established,  and 
in  1821  its  course  of  instruction  commenced  under 
Professors  Mills,  Lansing,  and  Perrine. 

The  Western  Theological  Seminary  was  placed  in 
1827  at  Allegheny  City,  and  Lane  Seminary,  the  fol- 
lowing year,  near  Cincinnati.  Other  schools  for  the 
training  of  ministers  were  :  The  Southern  and  Western 
Seminary  in  East  Tennessee ;  and  in  the  bounds  of 
Virginia,  the  Union  Theological  Seminary.  Education 
societies  were  encoui'aged,  and  the  work  of  foreign 
missions  was  prosecuted  mth  renewed  vigor.  Home 
missions  were  not  neglected  in  the  West,  South,  and 
South-west.  As  a  specimen  of  the  hardness  which  the 
good  soldiers  of  the  home  missionary  field  have  en- 
dured and  still  conquer  on  the  fi'ontier,  the  experience 
of  Isaac  Reed  in  Indiana  may  be  cited.  At  Bethany 
he  was  obliged  to  aid  in  building  his  own  rude  log 
cabin,  which  was  unfinished  as  winter  came  on.  In 
December  his  family  entered  it,  but  it  had  no  loft,  and 
there  was  no  plastering  of  the  chinking  between  the 
logs  above  the  joist-plates.  A  wide  wooden  chimney- 
place  was  cut  out  of  the  end  of  the  house  and  built 


138  PRESBYTEEIAX    CHUECH.    ' 

up  a  little  above  the  mantel-piece.  Here  the  self-deny- 
ing missionary  studied,  meditated,  and  j^rayed,  sur- 
rounded by  the  various  occupations  of  the  family ;  and, 
cheered  by  God's  presence  and  l^lessing,  called  his  rough 
dwelling  the  "  cottage  of  peace." 

From  1830  to  1837  the  grovv'th  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  v/as  astonishingly  rapid.  In  1837  there  were 
twenty-three  synods,  one  hundred  and  thii'ty-five  pres- 
byteries, two  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty  ministers, 
and  two  thousand  eight  hundi-ed  and  sixty-five  churches, 
with  a  membership  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  thousand 
five  hundred. 

During  this  period,  however,  the  seeds  of  separation 
had  been  sown,  and  the  church  became  divided  into 
two  bands.  The  story  of  this  division  is  briefly  re- 
counted in  the  following  chapter.  But  a  brighter  his- 
tory of  the  glad  Reunion  is  more  fully  unfolded  in  the 
remaining  portions  of  the  volume.  That  it  may  prove 
lasting,  and  encourage  all  Christians  who  agree  in  the 
great  essentials  of  the  Gosj)el  to  come  together  into 
one  united  llock,  is  the  constant  prayer  of  the  multi- 
tudes Avho  now  enjoy  its  peaceful  and  happy  fruits. 

The  UiaTED  I^kesbyteeia^t  Chuech  is  composed  of 
the  Associate  and  Associate  Reformed  Churches.  The 
Associate  Reformed  Presbytery  of  Pennsylvania,  sub- 
ordinate to  the  Associate  Synod  of  Edinburgh,  Avas  or- 
ganized in  1753.  In  1776  there  were  two  Presbyteries. 
Negotiations  were  partially  successful  for  uniting  with 
the  Refoemed  Peesbyteriais-  Chuech,  a  Presbytery 
organized  in  1774,  and  in  June,  1782,  a  union  was  con- 
summated, and  the  church  resulting  was  called  The 


LATER   AMERICAN    HISTORY.  139 

Associate  Reformed  Church.  In  1783  its  three 
Presbyteries  and  fourteen  ministers  wei'e  organized  into 
a  synod  called  "  The  Associate  Reformed  Synod  of 
North  America." 

In  1805  its  theological  seminary  was  opened  in  New 
York  City.  In  1858  the  Associate  and  Associate 
Reformed  Churches  joined  together  and  formed  The 
United  Presbyterian  Church  of  North  America. 

The  first  ministers  of  the  Associate  Church  who  la- 
bored in  America  were  Alexander  Gellatlyand  Andrew 
Arnott,  coming  under  appointment  from  the  Anti- 
Burgher  Synod  in  Scotland,  and  after  urgent  petitions 
from  New  London,  Octorara,  and  other  places  in  East- 
ern Pennsylvania.  Landing  in  Philadelphia  in  the 
summer  of  1753,  they  organized  in  November  following, 
according  to  their  instructions,  a  presbytery  entitled  the 
"Associate  Presbytery  of  Pennsylvania,  subordinate  to 
the  Associate  Synod  of  Edinburgh."  When,  in  1776, 
this  Presl)ytery  was  divided  into  those  of  Pennsylvania 
and  New  York,  their  number  had  grown  to  thirteen. 

"When  the  Revolutionary  w^ar  commenced  it  Avas  evi- 
dent that  communications  could  not  be  kept  up  with  the 
Church  in  the  mother  country.  Nor  could  pastors  be 
obtained  thence  to  meet  the  demands  of  new  and  grow- 
ing churches.  The  sentiments  of  American  patriotism 
also  tended  to  make  a  separate  and  independent  exist, 
ence  desirable,  and  hence  the  union,  in  1782,  with  the 
Presbytery  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  that 
had  been  established  in  1774. 

In  1799,  at  its  meeting  in  Green  Castle,  Pennsylva- 
nia, the  Associate  Reformed  Synod  issued  its  formal 
standards,  namely,  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith, 


140  PKESBYTEEIAN    CHURCn. 

which  was  subjected  to  some  alterations  with  resi^ect 
to  the  civil  magistracy ;  the  catechisms  and  the  directo- 
ries for  government  and  worship,  and  all  were  styled, 
"  The  Constitution  and  Standards  of  the  Associate  Re- 
formed Church  in  North  America." 

When  the  General  Synod  established  its  Theological 
Seminary,  under  Dr.  J.  M.  Mason,  it  found  a  number  of 
most  promising  young  men  ready  to  enter  it.  Some  of 
them  afterwards  became  most  distinguished  as  pastors, 
professors,  and  leaders  in  different  branches  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Such  names  as  the  following  do 
honor  to  the  roll  of  this  Seminary  and  the  Church  that 
founded  it:  Drs.  J.  M.  Matthews,  W.  W.  Phillips, 
G-eorge  Junkin,  Samuel  Findley,  David  Macdill,  John 
T.  Pressly,  D.  C.  McLaren,  and  Joseph  McCarrell. 
Previous  to  the  most  happy  union  of  the  Associate  Re- 
formed and  the  Associate  Chui-ch  as  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church,  it  had  theological  seminaries  at  Xe'w- 
burgh ;  Allegheny  City ;  Oxford,  Ohio ;  and  at  Mon- 
mouth, Illinois.  It  reports  an  average  annual  salary  of 
aearly  nine  hundred  dollars  for  each  one  of  its  pastors. 

The  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  organized 
its  first  Presbytery  in  1774.  All  but  two  of  its  minis- 
ters joined  the  Associate  Reformed  Church.  In  1798, 
its  Presbytery  was  reorganized.  Ten  years  afterwards, 
the  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  was 
organized,  and  in  1825  the  General  Synod  was  formed. 
In  1833  a  division  resulted,  and  two  synods  continue 
with  the  above  titles  to  sustain  missions,  theological 
schools,  and  other  departments  of  Christian  work. 

Its  first  minister  was  the  Rev.  John  Cuthbertson, 


LATER   AMERICAlSr    HISTORY.  141 

from  the  Eeformed  Presbytery  in  Scotland,  who  ar- 
rived in  America  in  1752.  The  names  of  the  two 
ministers  who  did  not  unite  with  the  Associate  Re- 
formed Church  are  the  Rev.  William  Marshall  and 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Clarkson.  Of  its  two  bands  or 
synods  that  now  exist,  the  one  called  "The  Synod" 
has  a  college,  a  theological  seminary,  and  a  very 
useful  mission  at  Latakia  and  its  neighborhood  in 
Syria.  The  other,  "  The  General  Synod,"  has  a  theo- 
logical school,  and  an  influential  foreign  mission  in 
connection  -with  the  Presbyterian  Chui'ch,  in  India. 

The  Associate  Refor:\ied  Synod  of  the  South  was 
originally  one  of  the  four  synods  of  the  General  Synod 
of  the  Associate  Reformed  Church.  It  has  numerous 
congregations,  and  a  theological  seminary  at  Due 
West,  South  Carolina. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  formed 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Transylvania  in  1803,  l^ecame 
an  independent  church  in  1810.  It  has  an  itinerating 
system  of  circuits  and  stations,  which  extends  widely 
throuo^hout  the  South  and  South-west.  It  has  five  col- 
leges  and  theological  seminaries. 

Its  origin  was  during  a  wonderful  revival  of  religion 
that  occurred  in  Kentucky  in  1801,  1802,  and  1803,  at 
which  there  was  an  unusual  demand  for  Presbyterian 
ministers.  Many  pious  laymen  of  good  abilities,  and 
who  were  accustomed  to  speaking  in  public,  were  en- 
couraged to  prepare  as  preachers,  and  were  as  such 
licensed  and  sent  forth  to  labor. 

The  Cumberland  Presbytery,  formed  in  the  southern 


142 


PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCH. 


part  of  Kentucky,  admitted  and  ordained  a  number  of 
these  licentiates,  and  took  on  trial  others  of  similar 
standing  and  training.  Being  censured  fbr  these  pro- 
ceedings, this  Presbytery  withdrew  fi-om  the  General 
Assembly,  and  became  the  germ  of  a  large  and  power- 
ful denomination.  Overtui*es  for  union  with  the  Re- 
united Presbyterian  Church  have  been  recently  enter- 
tained, but  as  yet  without  results. 

The  PRESBYTERiAisr  CiiuRcn  ix  the  Uxited  States 
has  had  a  separate  existence  since  1861.  It  is  vigor- 
ously employed  in  the  work  of  home  and  foreign  mis- 
sions, and  the  other  departments  of  benevolence,  and 
maintains  several  theological  seminaries. 

Among  these  are  the  Columbia  Theological  Seminary, 
situated  at  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  and  the  Union 
Theological  Seminary,  at  Hampden  Sidney,  Virginia. 
The  Church  has  four  permanent  executive  committees, 
having  in  charge  respectively :  Sustentation,  Foreign 
Missions,  Pul^lication,  and  Education. 

.Especially  in  the  work  of  Foreign  Missions  is  much 
enterprise  and  zeal  exhibited.  There  are  forty-five  mis- 
sionaries sustained,  laboring  among  the  Cherokee  Indi- 
ans, the  Creeks,  the  Choctaws,  and  the  Chickasaws,  in 
Italy,  in  the  United  States  of  Colombia,  in  Northern 
Brazil,  in  Southern  Brazil,  and  in  China.  A  corre- 
spondence has  been  opened  with  the  Reformed  Church 
looking  to  a  union  with  it,  which  is  deemed  desir- 
able by  many  of  the  ministers  and  members  of  this 
Church. 

The   Reformed    Church,  formerly   known   as   the 


LATER    AMERICAN   IIISTOEY.  143 

German  Reformed  Cliurch,  is  Presbyterian  in  its  gov- 
ernment, and  Calviuistic  in  its  doctrinal  standards.  Its 
first  missionaries  came  fi'om  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam, 
and  the  Synod  of  North  Holland.  For  some  years  it 
was  dependent  upon  the  Dutch  Church  in  Europe,  but 
in  1819  it  had  a  regular  synod,  with  Classes  or  Presby- 
teries. It  established  a  theological  seminary  in  1824, 
at  Carlisle,  Penn.,  wliich  was  afterwards  removed  to 
Mercersburg.  This  church  is  numerous,  well  organized, 
and  increasing. 

The  Reformed  Church,  formerly  called  The  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church,  dates  its  origin  in  this  country 
to  an  early  period  in  the  seventeenth  century.  The 
first  period  of  its  history  may  be  said  to  extend  for 
half  a  century,  to  the  surrender  of  the  Dutch  in  New 
York  to  the  English,  when  it  had  ten  thousand  adher- 
ents. 

Its  second  period  extends  for  three  quarters  of  a  cen- 
tury, during  which  time  the  Dutch  became  a  distinct 
element  of  population  in  the  English  provinces.  In 
New  York  and  New  Jersey  fiifty  churches  were  organ- 
ized. 

The  third  period  embraces  another  half  century,  dur- 
ing which  a  conference,  or  coetus,  was  established, 
which  was  to  meet  yearly  and  supervise  such  ministers 
as  were  sent  over  from  the  mother  country. 

In  1772,  full  approbation  was  given  by  the  Classis 
of  Amsterdam  to  the  formation  of  a  synod,  and  the 
Dutch  Church  rapidly  grew  and  prospered  in  America. 

A  General  Synod  was  organized  in  1794.  Its  lit- 
erary and  theological  institutions  have  been  well  main- 


144  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

tained.  These  are:  Untgers  College,  at  New  Bruns- 
^^'ick,  ISTow  Jersey ;  Hope  College,  at  Holland,  Mich., 
^\T[tli  theological  seiniuaries  at  both  New  Briiiisvvick 
and  Holland. 

THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN  THE  DOMINION  OF  CANADA. 

Large  portions  of  the  various  British  provinces 
which  are  now  united  in  the  one  Dominion  of  Canada 
having  been  settled  by  the  Presbyterians  of  Scotland 
and  -Ireland,  we  may  well  suppose  that  vigorous 
churches  of  this  name  have  taken  deep  root  and  grown 
to  large  dimensions  in  this  part  of  the  Continent  of 
America.  Men  who  left  their  native  land,  and  with 
grim  earnestness  and  noble  moral  courage  set  them- 
selves the  tasks  of  conquering  the  intense  rigors  of 
mnter,  the  scorching  heats  of  summer,  the  wild  beasts 
of  the  forest,  and  a  soil  encumbered  vv'ith  impenetrable 
woods,  and  of  building  homes  for  their  families,  were 
not  likely  to  neglect  the  essential  matters  of  education 
and  religion.  They  did  not  forget  these.  Trained 
from  their  earliest  years  to  value  such  institutions,  they 
were  now  far  more  earnest  in  their  appreciation  of 
them.  As  mth  giant  strokes  they  cut  tiieir  way  into 
the  forests,  they  sang,  "  If  I  forget  thee,  O  Jerusalem, 
let  my  right  hand  forget  her  cunning."  When  as  yet 
there  were  neither  tovni  nor  hamlet,  church  nor  school, 
these  sturdy  pioneers  had  their  family  altars  raised  for 
the  offering  of  their  morning  and  evening  incense. 
To  other  countries  than  Scotland,  Burns'  poem  of  "  The 
Cotter's  Saturday  Night,"  may  well  be  transferred. 
When  ministers  of  the  Gospel  were  rarely  found,  often 


LATER    AMERICAN    HISTORY.  145 

and  often  the  sun  has  set  upon  such  a  scene  as  that  por- 
trayed by  the  poet, 

"The  cheerfu'  supper  done,  wV  serious  face 

They  round  the  ingle  form  a  circle  wide  ; 
The  sire  turns  o'er,  wi'  patriarchal  grace. 

The  big  ha'  Bible,  ance  his  father's  pride ; 
His  bonnet  reverently  is  laid  aside. 

His  lyart  haffets  wearing  thin  an'  bare  ; 
Those  strains  that  once  did  sweet  in  Zion  glide, 

He  wales  a  portion  with  judicious  care  ; 
And  '  Let  us  worship  God ! '  he  says,  Avith  solemn  air." 

The  visits  of  ministers,  like  angels',  were  few  and 
far  between,  but  when  preachers  came  near  the  toil- 
worn  settlers  they  and  their  message  were  hailed  with 
delight.  Volumes  could  be  written  that  would  read  more 
like  romances  than  histories,  concerning  the  sacrifices 
made  and  the  suffeiings  endured  by  the  missionaries 
who  planted  Presbyterianism  on  Canadian  soils.  Par- 
ishes were  necessarily  of  immense  area,  and  the  pastors 
were  itinerants,  preaching  now  in  barns,  again  in  the 
peasant's  kitchen,  or  in  the  open  air.  The  various 
churches  of  Scotland  and  Ireland  were  represented  in 
this  grand  pioneer  work.  Ministers  of  the  Established 
Church  of  Scotland  were  of  course  early  on  the  field, 
and  planted  churches  in  towns  and  country  districts. 
About  the  year  1830,  the  Synod  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Canada  in  connection  with  the  Church  of 
Scotland  was  formed.  This  section  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  has  made  considerable  progress.  There  are 
now  upwards  of  a  hundred  able  and  earnest  minis- 
ters who  have  been  mostly  educated  in  Scotland. 
They   have   as   many  churches,  to  which   not   a   few 

10 


146  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

preaching  stations  and  district  Sunday-schools  are 
attached.  The  home-mission  work  of  this  Synod  is 
carried  on  with  zeal  and  generosity.  The  work  of  edu- 
cation receives  careful  and  earnest  attention,  and  in  this 
connection  we  may  say  that  the  well-known  colleges 
of  Kingston  and  Morrin  do  important  service  in  the 
training  of  ministers.  There  is,  besides  this  Synod, 
another  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  in  the  Maritime 
Provinces,  which  has  about  fifty  ministers,  and  is  doing 
a  great  and  useful  work  on  a  difficult  field.  It  has 
done  much  in  recent  years  in  planting  home-mission 
stations,  in  raising  pastors'  salaries  to  a  good  standard, 
and  its  contributions  to  foreign  missions  are  worthy  of 
notice. 

By  far  the  largest  body  of  Presbyterians  is  that 
which  is  called  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church.  This 
was  formed  in  1861  by  the  union  of  the  bodies  in 
Canada  which  represented  the  Free  and  United  Pres- 
byterian Chm'ches  of  Scotland — the  Irish  Presbyterians 
having  been  generally  included  in  the  former.  The  fii'st 
General  Assembly  of  this  Church  was  held  in  1870. 
The  Canada  Presbyterian  Church  has  now  five  synods, 
three  hundred  and  fifteen  ministers,  six  hundred  and 
thirty-three  regular  charges,  fifty-one  thousand  six  hun- 
dred and  twelve  communicants,  and  church  accommo- 
dations for  about  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  thousand 
persons.  The  liberality  of  this  Church  vies  with  that 
of  the  original  Churches  in  the  mother  country.  It  is 
fully  alive  to  the  necessities  of  the  home  field,  while 
contributing  largely  to  foreign  missions.  The  clergy  are 
generally  well  cared  for,  and  manses  are  the  rule  rather 
than  the  exception ;  while  the  congregations  are  large 


LATER    AMERICAN"    HISTORY.  147 

and  consolidated,  and  are  earnest  and  liberal  in  carry- 
ing: on  their  work.  It  is  curious  and  instructive  to  find 
the  representatives  of  the  Free  and  United  Presby- 
terian Churches,  which  in  Scotland  have  for  the  last 
ten  years  been  vainly  striving  after  an  incorporating 
union,  dwelling  .together  in  brotherly  love  as  one 
Church  of  Christ.  A  similar  union  is  witnessed  in 
Australia,  and-  surely  we  may  hope  that  the  example 
so  happily  set  by  the  children  in  the  Colonies  will  be 
followed  by  their  parents  in  the  mother  country. 

Besides  this,  there  is  the  Synod  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  Lower  Provinces,  which  is  homogeneous 
with  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church,  but  separated 
from  it  by  reason  of  distance.  It  includes  the  Presby- 
terian Churches  in  New  Brunswick,  Nova  Scotia,  and 
Prince  Edward  Island.  It  has  nearly  one  hundred  and 
twenty  pastors,  upwai'ds  of  one  hundred  and  thirty 
churches,  one  hundred  and  twenty  preaching  stations, 
and  about  eighteen  thousand  communicants. 

Not  only  does  Christian  harmony  prevail  amongst 
these  different  Churches,  but  there  is  reason  to  hope 
that  before  much  time  has  passed  they  will  be  united 
under  the  name  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
the  Dominion  of  Canada.  The  unification  of  the 
Churches  will  thus  happily  follow  that  of  the  provinces 
into  one  Dominion.  This  movement,  w^hich  is  but  of 
recent  origin,  and  may  be  said  to  have  been  the  natural 
sequence  of  the  reunion  of  the  two  great  branches  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States,  has 
made  the  most  promising  progress.  Difiiculties  that 
might  have  arisen  from  the  peculiar  relation  of  a 
section  of   these  bodies   to  the  State,  have  seemingly 


148 


PRESBYTERIAN    CHITRCII. 


vanished  in  presence  of  the  Christian  spirit  and  broth 
erly  love  which  have  prevailed  in  all  their  counsels. 
It  is  now  a  mere  question  of  time  when  there  will  be 
but  one  Presbyterian  Church  throughout  the  Dominion, 
which  in  numbers,  influence,  and  liberality  will  compare 
favorably  with  any  one  of  the  Churches  in  Scotland. 
In  such  a  union  we  see  the  possibility  of  a  similar 
movement  for  the  union  of  the  Churches  in  the  mother 
country. 


'&(: 


L  U  ^11    '       >1 


^^^l;».\ 


OLD  PRINCETON  COLLEGE. 


CHAPTER  XL 

HISTORICAL     SKETCHES    AFTER    1837. 
PARTI. 

It  is  a  third  of  a  century  since  the  Old  School  and  the 
New  School  parties  separated  and  became  distinct  com- 
munions. It  is  well  for  the  Church  that  its  later  party 
names,  like  the  earlier  ones,  Old  and  New  Side,  should 
speedily  die  away  from  the  current,  especially  from 
the  emotional,  language  of  Presbyterians ;  though  they 
must  forever  survive  in  history,  and  the  historical  use 


150  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

of  tliem  cannot,  witli  rea.son,  be  deemed  invidious.  Of 
course,  in  what  is  written,  at  this  early  day,  ft'om  a 
point  of  view  in  either  school,  the  warm  glow  of  interest 
and  of  a  reasonable  partiality  will  be  looked  for,  rather 
than  the  clearer  but  colder  light  of  unbiassed  indifEer- 
ence. 

This  period  of  about  thirty-two  years  has  been  a 
veiy  momentous  one  in  the  annals  both  of  the  chui'ch 
at  large  and  of  the  world.  It  has  been  marked  by 
extraordinary  progress  in  the  arts  and  sciences :  by 
wondei-ful  improvements  in  domestic,  agricultural,  and 
manufacturing  machinery;  by  brilliant  discoveries  in 
the  depths  of  old  ocean,  in  the  stellar  universe,  and  in 
the  all-pervading  laws  of  the  physical  forces ;  by  the 
practical  introduction  of  intercontinental  steam  naviga- 
tion and  of  the  magnetic  telegraph,  linking  closely 
together  points  the  farthest  asunder  round  the  almost 
girdled  globe.  Its  record  of  hiunan  enterprise  tells  of 
adventurous  expeditions,  on  one  side  far  toward  the 
North  Pole,  on  the  other  into  the  tropical  mysteries  of 
interior  Afi-ica ;  of  the  ocean  cable,  of  the  Suez  canal, 
and  of  the  Paciiic  railroad;  of  the  close  earth,  in 
regions  wide  apart,  greedily  disembowelled,  and  yield- 
ing up  unheard-of  treasui'es.  These  years  have  wit- 
nessed political  changes,  many  of  them  of  the  greatest 
importance.  The  United  States  have  gained  by  con- 
quest, justly  or  unjustly,  fi'om  Mexico,  a  large  extension 
of  the  national  domain,  A  war  of  almost  unparalleled 
magnitude  has  saved  our  imion,  emancii^ated  and  en- 
fi-anchised  four  millions  of  slaves.  The  Emperor  of 
the  French,  attempting  to  interfere  with  our  American 
system,  has  been  disconcerted  by  a  frown,  and  in  wis- 


inSTOEICAL    EEVIEW    OF   THE    CIIUECn.  151 

dom  dearly  purchased  lias  abandoned  the  adventure. 
In  Europe,  France  has  again  a  republic,  after  her  perils 
under  the  imperial  Napoleonic  dynasty;  Russia  has 
been  humbled  at  Sebastopol,  but  has  greatly  advanced 
in  civilization  and  power,  and  emancipated  millions  of 
serfs ;  the  larger  part  of  Italy  has  recovered  itself  from 
arbitrary  rule,  and  the  temporal  despotism  of  the  Popf» 
is  tottering  —  perhaps  to  its  fall ;  Prussia  has  suddenly, 
by  warlike  achievement,  become  one  of  the  great 
powers,  and  has  well-nigh  realized  the  pregnant  idea  of 
German  unity ;  Austria  has  been  wonderfully  modern- 
ized ;  and  Spain,  having  exiled  her  royal  house,  stands 
hesitating  between  a  republic  and  a  constitutional 
monarchy.  In  benighted  Africa,  Liberia  has  become 
an  independent  state,  with  free  Christian  institutions 
modelled  exactly  after  our  own.  In  slumberous  Asia, 
the  dense  millions  of  China  and  Japan  have  been 
awakened  to  intercoui"se  with  the  busy,  outside  world ; 
and  over  those  of  India,  Great  Britain,  through  much 
blood  and  suffering,  has  reasserted  her  power,  which 
God  seems  to  overrule  to  such  poor  idolaters  and  wor- 
ship j3ers  of  the  false  Prophet  for  good.  To  the  Church 
of  Christ  this  period  has  been  made  sj^ecially  interest- 
ing by  the  decline  of  rationalism  in  Germany,  but  its 
spread  in  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States ;  by  the 
decay  of  Homanism  in  Papal,  but  its  revival  in  Protest- 
ant, countries,  and  by  striking  indications  that  its 
superstition,  iniquity,  and  blasphemy  are  almost  full, 
seen  in  the  mingled  craft  and  madness  with  which  the 
machineiy  of  conferences  and  councils  has  been  re- 
stored, modern  civilization  and  evangelical  religion 
denounced  and  attacked,  and  the  monstrous  doofmas  of 


152  PRESIiYTERIAlSr    CIIURCn. 

the  immaculate  conception  of  Mary  and  the  infalli- 
bility of  the  Pope  unblushingly  promulgated ;  by  the 
discovery  of  the  more  complete  of  the  two  oldest 
known  manuscripts  of  the  Greek  New  Testament ;  by 
the  exodus  of  the  Free  Chm-ch  of  Scotland ;  by  a  spirit 
of  union  and  communion  freshly  and  extensively 
awakened  among  Christians ;  by  wide  openings  of  the 
Papal  and  Pagan  world  to  the  gospel,  its  more  abund- 
ant success,  and  the  wonderful  outpourings  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  by  which,  in  many  lands,  it  has  been  made 
indeed  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation. 

For  obvious  reasons,  the  division  of  seventeen  years 
between  the  Old  Side  and  the  New  Side  of  the  last 
century  was  of  shorter  dui-ation  than  that  just  now 
healed.  The  amount  of  transient  feeling  excited  was, 
perhaps,  in  the  two  cases,  nearly  equal  —  feeling 
enough  to  rend  the  church  in  twain.  But  much  the 
more  important  have  been  the  differences,  as  to  doc- 
trine and  chm'ch  order  alike,  which  have  protracted  the 
separation  of  the  Old  and  New  Schools.  And  without 
a  general  idea  of  these  differences,  we  should  hardly  be 
able  to  understand  the  long  continuance  of  the  division ; 
the  history  meanwhile  of  either  school ;  the  negotiations 
which  have  resulted  in  reunion ;  its  final  terms ;  or  the 
prospects  of  the  reunited  church. 

Affinities  and  a  fi*aternal  confidence  which  unhap- 
pily time  has  not  increased,  between  Presbyterians  and 
Cougregationalists,  had  led  to  an  admixtm'e  of  Congre- 
gationalism in  Presbyterian  judicatories.  The  Old 
School  insisted  that  this  admixtm'e,  as  unconstitutional, 
should  cease.  The  New  School  contended  for  its  tol- 
eration   and    extension.     The    Old    School   preferred 


HISTORICAL   REVIEW    OF   THE   CHURCH.  153 

strictly  ecclesiastical  agencies  for  conducting  the  mis- 
sionary and  other  general  evangelistic  work  of  the 
church,  urging,  particularly,  the  establishment  of  a 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  The  New 
School  desired,  in  union  with  Congregationalists,  to 
confide  this  work  to  voluntary  associations,  the  foreign 
part  of  it  to  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners. 
Both  professed  to  be  Calvinistic  and  to  "  receive  and 
adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith  ...  as  containing  the 
system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Scriptures ; "  but  they 
differed  seriously  in  judgment  as  to  what  was  essential 
to  that  system,  and,  therefore,  what  departm-es  from 
the  formulary  were  consistent  with  such  a  profession. 
The  Old  School  contended  that  certain  errors  utterly 
inconsistent  mth  it  were  prevalent  in  the  church ;  for 
the  purification  of  which  they  endeavored  to  visit  with 
discipline  several  prominent  ministers  charged  with 
these  errors.  The  New  School  argued  that  some  of 
the  views  alleged  to  be  erroneous  were  reconcilable 
with  the  Calvinistic  system;  denied  that  the  others 
were  really  entertained  by  the  parties  accused,  or  were 
seriously  prevalent;  and  resisted  the  disci2iline  j)ro- 
posed.  This  difference  as  to  doctrine  the  Old  School 
uniformly  considered  and  treated  as  by  far  the  most 
serious  difference  between  the  parties. 

The  Old  School  majority  in  the  General  Assembly 
of  1837  having  disowned  four  synods,  as  so  far  Con- 
gregationalized  that  they  could  not  be  any  longer 
acknowledged  as  Presbyterian  bodies,  the  New  School 
commissioners  to  the  Assembly  of  1838,  refused  to 
recognize  an  organization  of  this  judicatory  which  ex 
eluded  representatives  from  the  disowned  constituency 


154 


PRESBYTEIIIAN    CIIURCII. 


and  formed  another,  and,  as  they  claimed,  the  only  true 
Assembly.  This  was  but  the  commencement  of  the 
division.  A  process  of  separation  and  reconstruction, 
necessary  to  some  extent  in  both  schools,  at  once  began, 
which  was  not  completed  throughout  the  two  for 
several  years.  Most  of  the  component  parts  of  the 
former  church  took  up  their  positions  definitely  and 
finally,  at  once,  on  this  side  or  that;  but  some  small 
portions  remained  for  a  while  undecided ;  while  a  few 
made  a  decision  at  first  to  which  they  did  not  ulti- 
mately adhere.  The  whole  process,  though  not  carried 
through  without  much  heat  and  fi'iction,  produced  less 
of  either  than  might  have  been  anticipated.  Appeals 
to  the  civil  coui'ts  for  the  settlement  of  church  disputes 
were  not  of  very  frequent  occurrence.  Here,  a  synod, 
presbytery,  or  congregation,  without  division  or  serious 
difference  of  opinion,  declared  for  the  Old  School  or 
the  New;  there,  such  a  declaration  was  submitted  to 
by  some  persons  under  protest.  Minorities  in  many 
cases  seceded  from  majorities,  and  frequently  claimed 
the  true  succession,  yet  in  general  without  open  strife. 
Ecclesiastical  records  were  usually  retained  by  the 
bodies  whose  adherents  happened  to  have  them  in 
hand.  Legal  right,  real  or  imagined,  often  assumed  at 
first  an  attitude  of  defiance,  yet  in  the  end  yielded  to 
the  spirit  of  Christian  forbearance.  As  usual  in  such 
circumstances,  adherence  to  one  side  or  the  other  was 
not  always  determined  by  a  full,  or  even  predominant, 
approval  of  the  views  or  measures  by  that  side 
adopted. 

The  Old  School  have  always  claimed  to  have  made 
full  provision,  in  1837  and  1838,  for  the  proper  read- 


HISTOEICAL   EEVIEW    0F   THE   CHUECH.  155 

justraent  of  the  ecclesiastical  relations  of  all  sound 
cjlmrches,  ministers,  and  judicatories  involved  in  the 
disowning  acts;  and,  by  several  measures  adopted  in 
the  latter  year  and  the  next,  they  provided  further  for 
the  minorities  left  in  synods,  presbyteries,  and  congre- 
gations, in  the  church  at  large,  by  the  withdrawment 
of  the  New  School.  Before  any  suit  at  law  had  been 
commenced,  they  recommended,  in  regard  to  property 
questions,  "great  liberality  and  generosity"  on  the 
part  of  all  their  adherents.  And  after  the  main  suit 
had  resulted  in  their  favor,  they  more  than  intimated 
their  readiness  to  stand  by  the  terms,  as  to  temporal 
interests,  which  had  been  proposed  and  both  parties 
had  approved  in  their  negotiations  for  an  amicable 
division. 

The  exact  relative  strength  of  the  two,  when  they 
separated,  cannot  be  easily  determined.  By  the  statis- 
tical tables  of  1837,  the  whole  nmnber  of  ministers  in 
the  yet  united  chui-ch  was  twenty-one  hundred  and 
forty,  of  congregations  twenty-eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
five.  Several  years  elapsed  before  all  these  ministers 
and  congregations  determined  definitely  their  respec- 
tive positions,  and  the  numbers  of  the  two  sides  could 
be  clearly  ascertained.  Moreover,  the  New  School,  in 
1840,  commenced  the  experiment  of  a  triennial  As- 
sembly, their  supreme  judicatory  not  meeting  again 
till  1843.  At  the  latter  date,  they  reported  twelve 
hundred  and  sixty-three  ministers,  and  fourteen  hun- 
dred and  ninety-six  congregations;  the  Old  School, 
fourteen  hundred  and  thirty-four  of  the  one,  two  thou- 
sand and  ninety-two  of  the  other.  By  comparing  these 
nmnbers,  and  allowing  for  the  natui-al  increase  of  both 


156  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

bodies  in  six  years,  we  shall  perhaps  come  nearer  to 
their  relative  strength  at  the  separation  than  we  can  in 
any  other  way. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact,  that  the  years  of  most 
earnest  controversy,  pending  the  division,  were  years 
of  special  religious  prosperity  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  From  1829  to  1838,  inclusive,  the  statistical 
reports  exhibited  an  unusual  number  of  additions  upon 
profession,  though  the  reports  of  1836,  7,  and  8  were 
less  favorable  than  those  preceding.  And  after  the 
division,  there  was  in  this  I'espect  no  appreciable  fall- 
ing off,  in  the  Old  School  communion,  from  the  exhibit 
cf  the  years  last  mentioned. 

The  New  School,  to  test  their  claim  to  the  true  suc- 
cession, and  their  title  to  the  funds  and  institutions  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  commenced  a  suit  in  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania,  the  state  by  which 
the  Trustees  of  the  General  Assembly  had  been  incor- 
porated. Three  other  suits  by  commissioners  from 
within  the  bounds  of  the  diso^vned  synods,  who  had 
been  denied  seats  in  the  Assembl}^,  were  also  instituted, 
to  test  in  a  different  way  the  principles  of  the  case. 
The  one  first  mentioned,  however,  was  the  only  one 
brought  to  trial,  the  decision  therein  being  regarded 
as  finally  settling,  so  far  at  least  as  the  courts  of 
Pennsylvania  were  concerned,  the  whole  controversy. 
This  trial,  involving  as  it  did  great  interests,  di"aA\ang 
together  a  number  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  being  conducted  by  emi- 
nent counsel  on  both  sides,  excited  profound  attention, 
and  was  ^vatched  thi-oughout  its  progi-ess  by  many 
anxious  minds  all  o^er  the  United  States.     Early  iu 


HISTOEICAL    EEVIEW    OF   TIIE    CnUECH.  157 

March,  1839,  it  commenced  before  Judge  Kogers  and  a 
jury  at  nisi  prius.  Most  of  the  time  duiing  its  contin- 
uance, the  court-room  was  crowded  by  eager  spectators 
and  auditors.  One  after  another  called  upon  to  tes- 
tify, a  number  of  them  venerable  clergymen,  put  aside 
"  the  Book,"  with  Puiitan  conscientiousness,  and  swore 
with  the  uplifted  hand,  a  form  of  oath  particularly 
solemn  and  impressive.  In  the  crowd  the  question 
was  frequently  asked,  "What  is  the  difference 
between  the  Old  School  and  the  New  I "  Perhaps  a 
tipstaff  would  assume  for  the  nonce  the  gravity  of  a 
theologian,  and  attempt  to  satisfy  the  inquii'er.  "  The 
Old  School  hold  that  whatever  is  to  be  will  be,"  he 
said,  but  broke  down  in  trying  to  reverse  the  proposi- 
tion plausibly.  Under  the  judge's  charge,  sustaining 
the  New  School  in  every  important  point,  the  jmy 
gave  a  verdict  in  their  favor.  Fi'om  outside  the  bar, 
in  the  densely  packed  courtroom,  rang  foi-th  a  warm 
burst  of  applause,  which  the  judge  instantly  and 
sternly  suppressed. 

A  motion  for  a  new  trial  was  afterwards  presented 
and  argued,  and  on  the  eighth  of  May  an  anxious 
throng  were  again  assembled  to  hear  the  decision. 
Chief -Justice  Gibson  delivered  the  opinion  of  the  court. 
Judge  Eogers  only  dissenting.  The  judgment  at  nisi 
prius  was  entirely  reversed,  a  new  trial  granted,  and 
the  whole  case  really  settled  in  favor  of  the  Old  School. 
In  silence  the  crowd  dispersed.  Three  years  and  some 
months  later,  the  New  School  quietly  discontinued  the 
suit. 

This  triumph  at  law,  and  consequent  retention  of  the 
general  property  of  the  church,  have  not  unconrunonlv 


158  PRESBYTEEIAN    CHURCH. 

been  regarded  as  a  signal  advantage  to  the  Old  School, 
and  a  chief  cause  of  their  subsequent  prosperity.  They 
were  beyond  doubt  gainers,  in  character  and  influence, 
by  being  declared  thus  judicially  the  true  Presbyterian 
Chui'ch.  But  the  funds  secui'ed  were  a  mere  trifle 
comparatively,  not  amounting  to  half  a  million  of 
dollars,  and  not  equalling  the  aggregate  of  missionary 
and  other  charitable  contributions  of  the  whole  church 
for  two  years  alone  prior  to  the  division.  Moreover, 
they  were  the  funds,  mainly,  of  the  Old  School  theo- 
logical seminaries;  and  three  seminaries,  with  their 
endowments,  out  of  seven,  the  New  School  retained ;  as 
likewise,  in  all  but  a  few  cases,  the  property  of  their 
individual  congregations.  They  had  in  fact  agreed,  in 
the  Assembly  of  1837,  that  an  equitable  division  of  the 
only  general  funds,  to  any  part  of  which  they  could 
lay  just  claim,  would  give  them  less  than  fifteen  thou- 
sand dollars. 

But  advantages  more  important  the  Old  School  re- 
ally enjoyed.  The  separation  was  not  theii*  act,  and  no 
effort  to  rend  the  body  asunder  gave  them  an  impulse 
in  any  divergent  coui'se.  They  w^eut  on  in  the  even 
way  of  the  standards,  to  which,  in  fact,  they  wei*e  ac- 
cused only  of  adliering  with  too  much  strictness.  Their 
orthodoxy  has  been  scarce  questioned,  however  they 
may  have  been  charged  with  putting  undue  restraints 
upon  liberty.  With  them,  much  the  greater  part  of  the 
period  of  separation  has  been  one  of  steady  progress  in 
the  old  Presbyterian  orbit,  with  only  the  slightest  per- 
tm'bations.  Though  not  quite  all  approving  of  the  acts 
of  1837,  they  have  been  united,  in  an  unusual  degree, 
in  doctrine,  spirit,  ecclesiastical  policy,  earnest  effort  to 


HISTOEICAL    REVIEW    OF   THE    CHUKCH.  159 

spread  the  Gospel  under  strict  Presbyterian  forias, 
and  in  the  whole  work  of  the  church. 

It  was  an  advantage,  too,  that  the  Old  School  felt 
themselves  particularly  bound  to  demonstrate  by  spe- 
cial activity  and  zeal,  that  what  they  had  so  earnestly 
contended  for  was  in  truth  for  the  furtherance  and 
prosperity  of  Christ's  kingdom.  To  save  their  own 
credit,  much  more  for  the  glory  of  God,  they  must 
prove  that  Congregational  order  was  no  help  to  Pres- 
byterianism ;  that  chm-ch  boards  were  better  than  vol- 
untary associations ;  that  old  Calvinism  was  the  form 
of  doctrine  most  efEective  in  producing  genuine  revivals 
and  saving  men. 

The  measm-es  adopted  by  the  General  Assembly  to 
pm'ge  the  church  of  Congregationalism  were  soon  com- 
pletely successful.  The  greater  number  of  those  judi- 
catories in  which  it  prevailed  to  any  serious  extent 
went  off,  sooner  or  later,  with  the  New  School ;  but  in 
one  way  or  another  the  last  vestige  of  it  disappeared, 
before  long,  fi'om  the  Old  School  body. 

The  theological  history  of  this  division  of  the  church 
for  the  whole  thirty-two  years  of  its  separate  exist- 
ence may  be  presented  in  a  very  few  words.  It  was 
left  by  the  separation  in  a  state  of  almost  unprece- 
dented doctrinal  homogeneity.  One  may  well  doubt, 
whether  any  other  Christian  communion  of  equal  size 
has  ever  excelled  it,  as  to  unity  in  the  reception  of  an 
evangelical  creed  of  such  extent  as  the  Westminstei' 
Confession  and  Catechisms.  Differences  of  opini  >n,  even 
among  its  ministers,  have,  of  course,  existed ;  but  these 
differences  have  been  comparatively  trifling,  or  of  very 
little  prominence  or  prevalence.     If  in  any  quarter  st> 


J 


160  PRESBYTErJAN    CHURCH. 

rious  error  has  been  adopted,  for  the  most  part  it  must 
have  been  kept  secret,  or  have  been  known  to  but  a 
few.  No  agitating  discipline  on  this  ground  has  been 
exercised,  or,  to  the  knowledge  of  the  church  at  large, 
needed.  "Princeton  Theology,"  as  it  has  often  been 
called,  has,  beyond  question,  been  almost  universally 
prevalent  among  the  Old  School.  If  opposing  systems 
must  take  a  modern  nomenclature,  there  may  be  no 
harm  in  making  Princeton  and  New  Haven  respectively 
the  synonyms  of  the  Old  and  the  New  Divinity ;  but  it 
should  be  remembered  that  the  text-books  of  Princeton 
have  constantly  been  the  simple  Westminster  symbols, 
and  such  long  and  generally  approved  systematic  pre- 
sentations of  the  Kef  ormed  Theology  as  the  "  Institutio 
TheologisB  Elencticae"  of  Franciscus  Tm-rettin.  Old 
School  men  have  been  slow  to  admit  the  idea  of  any 
possible  improvement  in  the  generally  received  system 
of  gospel  truth.  Recognizing  fully  the  recent  progress 
made  in  Biblical  criticism  and  exegesis ;  the  fact,  too, 
that  from  time  to  time  fuller  and  more  exact  statements 
of  Christian  doctrine  may  be,  as  they  have  been,  elabo- 
rated; and  by  no  means  maintaining  that  any  unin- 
spired man  has  been  wholly  fi*ee  from  error;  they 
have,  nevei-theless,  rejected  with  singular  unanimity  the 
assumption,  that  any  part  of  the  substance  of  the  gospel 
has  lain  hidden  in  holy  Scripture  until  modern  times ; 
or  that  the  church  of  Christ  has  new  discoveries  to 
make  as  to  the  system  of  truth  in  Jesus.  Of  a  well- 
known  Presbyterian  quarterly  publication,  one  identi- 
fied with  it  from  the  beginning  has  lately  said,  "  It  has 
been  the  honest  endeavor  of  its  conductors  to  exhibit 
and  defend  the  doctrines  of  our  standaids,  under  the 


HISTORIC^VL   REVIEW    OF   THE    CnURCH.  161 

abiding  conviction  that  they  are  the  doctrines  J)f  the 
word  of  God.  They  have  advanced  no  new  theories, 
and  have  never  aimed  at  originality.  Whether  it  be 
a  ground  of  reproach  or  of  approbation,  it  is  believed 
to  be  true,  that  an  original  idea  in  theology  is  not  to  be 
found  on"  its  "pages  .  .  .  fi'om  the  beginning  until  now." 
And  this  praise  or  blame  may  be  said  to  have  belonged 
to  the  Old  School  Church  in  general  as  distinctively  as 
to  the  publication  from  which  it  has  been  quoted. 

A  deep  conviction  of  the  church's  duty  to  carry  on, 
through  strictly  ecclesiastical  agencies,  the  work  of 
Foreign  Missions,  had  led  the  Synod  of  Pittsburg,  as 
early  as  1831,  to  organize  itself  for  this  purpose  as  The 
Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society.  The  New  School 
had  refused  to  consummate  the  desires  and  plans  of  the 
Old,  by  taking  this  enterprise  under  the  care  of  the 
whole  church;  but  the  Assembly  of  1837  accepted  the 
trust,  establishing  in  New  York  City  The  Presbyterian 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  to  which  the  Synod  of 
Pittsburg  immediately  made  a  siuTe'nder.  This  result 
greatly  cheered  those  who  had  so  long  labored  for  it, 
and  they  felt  their  solemn  responsibility  to  prove  that 
zeal  for  Christ's  cause,  not  mere  party  spirit,  had  ani 
mated  theii*  endeavors.  The  first  meeting  of  the  new 
board  was  held  in  Baltimore  in  the  following  October  ; 
and  it  commenced  its  operations  mth  alacrity,  and  with 
most  encom-aging  prospects,  which  have  not  proved  de- 
lusive. 

According  to  the  plan  of  church  agencies  now  fiilly 

established,  a  Board  of  Publication  was  appointed  by 

the  Assembly  of  1838,  to  which  was  transferred  the 

property  and  business  of  the  Presbyterian  Tract  and 
11 


1G2  pin:sBYTEniAN  ciiURcn. 

Sabbath-Scliool  Book  Society,  organized  by  tlie  Synod 
of  Pliiladelpliia  a  few  years  before.  The  Assembly  of 
1839,  the  fiftieth  year  having  now  been  completed 
since  this  supreme  judicatory  had  first  convened,  recom- 
mended the  second  Sabbath  of  December  for  a  semi- 
centenary  celebration,  a  day  of  jubilee  thanksgiving  for 
past  mercies ;  and  the  offering  at  that  time,  by  all  the 
members  of  the  church,  of  gifts  for  the  endowment  of 
the  new  board.  The  fund  raised  reached  the  sum  of 
forty  thousand  dollars.  This  sum,  with  about  twenty- 
eight  thousand  dollars  donated  for  building  purposes  a 
few  years  later,  has  been  the  nucleus  of  all  that  board's 
permanent  property. 

Before  the  di-vision,  two  boards  had  been  organized : 
The  Board  of  Missions,  now  of  Domestic  Missions,  for 
the  home  work,  in  1816 ;  and  in  1819,  The  Board  of  Ed- 
ucation, to  aid  candidates  for  the  ministry ;  both  located 
in  Philadelphia.  These  had  been  fostered  by  the  Old 
School,  while,  as  a  party,  the  New  School  had  pre- 
ferred The  American  Home  Missionary  Society,  and 
The  American  Education  Society,  voluntary  associa- 
tions in  which  Congregationalists  participated. 

The  Board  of  INIissions  had,  in  1844,  the  business  of 
church  extension,  or  church  erection,  added  to  its  other 
operations.  This  was  carried  on  by  a  special  commit- 
tee, which,  ten  years  afterward,  for  greater  effect,  was 
enlarged.  But  in  1855,  an  independent  Committee  of 
Church  Extension  was  established  at  St.  Louis,  the 
name  of  which  was  changed,  in  18G0,  to  that  of  the 
Board  of  Church  Building,  then  the  Board  of  Church 
Extension. 

In  1845,  after  several  years'  agitation  of  the  subject, 


HISTOEICAL   EEVIEW   OF   THE   CHTJECH.  163 

tlie  Assembly  directed  the  Board  of  Missions  to  appoint 
an  Executive  Committee  at  LouisviUe,  furnished  witli 
a  secretary  and  other  officers,  co-ordinate  with  the  Ex- 
ecutive Committee  at  Philadelphia,  and  to  have  the 
care  of  the  western  and  south-western  fields.  In  1859, 
a  South-western  Advisory  Committee,  with  a  district 
secretary  at  New  Orleans,  was  ordered,  and  the  next 
year  a  similar  Committee  of  the  Pacific  Coast  at  San 
Francisco;  but  in  1862,  all  this  additional  machinery 
was  discontinued,  as  cumbersome,  expensive,  and  un- 
profitable, and  the  management  placed  upon  its  pre- 
vious simpler  footing. 

The  sphere  of  the  Board  of  Education  was  enlarged, 
in  1846  and  the  two  years  follomng,  so  as  to  include 
the  assistance  and  care  of  Presbyterian  colleges,  acade- 
mies, and  primary  schools,  a  part  of  its  work  which  has 
gro^vn  constantly,  though  not  rapidly. 

Two  other  departments  of  Christian  liberality  and 
effort  have  been  committed  to  similar  agencies.  For 
more  than  a  century  and  a  half  the  Presbyterian 
Church  has  systematically  raised  funds  for  the  relief 
of  disabled  ministers  and  their  families.  But,  in  1849, 
the  General  Assembly  ordered  collections  for  this  pur- 
pose to  be  disbursed  by  the  Board  of  Publication,  a 
business  transferred  in  1852  to  its  own  trustees;  and 
in  1861  a  secretary  was  appointed  to  devote  his  time 
mainly  to  this  enterprise,  which  has  since  more  pros- 
perously advanced.  In  1864,  the  condition  of  the 
Freedmen  at  the  South  demanding  immediate  atten- 
tion, two  committees,  one  in  Philadelphia,  the  other 
in  Indianapolis,  were  appointed  to  take  charge  of 
educational  and  general  evangelistic  work  among  this 


1G4  PRESBYTEKIAN    CIIURCn. 

class ;  and  the  next  year,  in  place  of  the  two,  a  single 
CJommittee  on  Freedmen  was  established  and  located 
at  Pittsburg. 

In  1840,  the  Assembly  determined  that  an  efficient 
system  of  agencies,  by  which  the  churches  should  be 
visited  from  year  to  year,  was,  in  the  existing  condi- 
tion of  Christian  feeling  and  knowledge  on  the  subject 
of  benevolent  operation,  absolutely  indispensable.  But 
gradually  that  system  has  passed  away,  yet  the  lib- 
erality of  the  churches  has  greatly  increased.  This 
result  has  been  attained  in  pai't  through  a  standing 
committee  on  Systematic  Benevolence,  aj^jDointed  fii'st 
by  the  Assembly  of  1854,  and  reporting  every  year. 
Although  many  congregations  yet  fail  of  making  regu 
lar  contributions  to  every  scheme  of  the  church,  the 
plan  of  stri\dng  to  cultivate  in  ecclesiastical  judica- 
tories and  individual  Christians  a  sense  of  theii*  respon 
sibility,  and  leaving  the  matter  with  them,  has  proved 
in  such  a  degree  effectual,  that  any  system  of  special 
agencies  for  the  collection  of  ordinary  benevolent  con- 
tri]:>utions  would  now  find  little  remaining  favor. 

In  1842,  the  Assembly  gave  a  unanimous  decision 
that  ruling  elders  should  not  lay  on  hands  in  the  ordi- 
nation of  ministers ;  yet  afterward  the  matter  was  laid 
over,  in  mere  com-tesy,  for  the  action  of  the  next 
Assembly,  in  which  was  also  agitated  the  question, 
wliether  there  could  be  a  quorum  of  presbyteiy  or 
synod,  without  the  presence  of  any  ruling  elder.  A  con- 
troversy on  these  subjects,  carried  on  for  several  years 
in  ecclesiastical  judicatories  and  in  periodical  and  other 
pul)lications,  excited  no  little  interest.  The  office  of 
ruling  elder  has  been  regarded  almost  unanimouslv  in 


HISTOEICAL    REVIEW    OF   THE   CHUECH.  165 

tie  Presbyterian  Cliurcli,  as  of  divine  appointment,  but 
with  a  considerable  latitude  of  opinion  as  to  its  exact 
Scriptui-al  warrant,  and  its  relations  to  the  office  of  the 
preaching  elder.  On  these  points  at  least  four  distinct 
theories  have  been  propounded.  (1.)  One  is,  that  the 
term  elder  in  the  New  Testament,  as  applied  to  Chi'is- 
tian  ecclesiastics,  is  used  only  to  designate  ministers  of 
the  word  and  sacraments,  who  are  also,  as  universally 
admitted,  rulers  in  the  most  general  sense,  including 
all  ecclesiastical  functions.  The  scriptural  words  then 
designating  those  now  called  ruling  elders  are  such  as 
rulers  and  governments.  The  other  theories  all  agree 
in  the  supposition,  that  the  same  New  Testament  term 
includes  both  the  ruling  and  the  preaching  elders  of 
oui"  day,  but  fi^om  this  common  starting  point  diverge 
widely.  (2.)  One  of  the  three  supposes  two  orders  of 
elders ;  that  is,  two  kinds  distinguished  by  ordinations 
essentially  different.  The  two  remaining  theories  alike 
represent  all  elders  as  of  exactly  the  same  order  or 
ordination;  but  (3)  one  of  them  supposes  all  to  be 
fundamentally  rulers,  and  the  office  of  preaching  to  be 
a  mere  superadded  function  or  gift;  while  (4)  the 
other  makes  all  fundamentally  ministers  of  the  word, 
the  fact  that  some  do  not  much  addict  themselves  to 
this  ministry  being  due,  in  part  to  a  wrongful  ordina- 
tion of  incompetent  persons,  in  part  to  an  allowable 
diversity  of  service.  The  latter  two  theories  seem  to 
have  been  confined  j^retty  much  to  this  country.  Dr. 
Robert  J.  Breckinridge,  Dr.  Thornwell,  and  others  who 
maintained  either  of  them,  natui'ally  enough  contended 
.,hat  ruling  and  preaching  elders  alike  should  unite  in 
presbyterial  ordinations.     They  argued,  moreover,  that 


1G6  PEESBYTEEIAK   CHTJECH. 

as  ordination  was  an  act  of  presbytery,  participation 
in  every  part  of  it  was  the  riglit  of  every  member  of 
presbytery.  It  was  ratlier  inconsistent  with  either  of 
these  theories  to  maintain,  that  mthout  the  presence 
of  one  or  more  ruling  elders  no  church  court  could  be 
properly  constituted ;  but  Dr.  Breckinridge  and  other 
advocates  of  the  latter  doctrine  based  it  chiefly  upon 
certain  expressions  in  the  form  of  government.  The 
ready  reply  was  that  these  expressions  had  received  an 
authoritative  interpretation  to  the  contraiy  by  imme- 
morial and  nearly  uniform  and  unquestioned  practice. 
Against  any  innovation  upon  that  practice  very  large 
majorities  decided  in  both  1843  and  1844;  and  this 
quieted  the  agitation  of  the  subject. 

Of  a  later  date,  in  the  Old  School  Church,  and  of 
much  less  notoriety,  has  been  the  question,  whether 
ruling  elders  may  be  elected  to  serve  for  a  limited  time 
—  one  year  or  a  term  of  years.  The  Assembly  of 
1835  had  condemned  such  an  election;  but  recent 
tactitians  having  devised  plans  for  turning  the  flank 
of  both  the  supreme  judicatory  and  the  form  of  gov- 
ernment at  this  point,  they  met  mth  a  more  decisive 
check  in  the  Assembly  of  1869. 

The  year  1843  was  the  two  hundi'edth  since  the  first 
meeting  of  the  ever-memorable  Westminster  Assembly 
of  Divines,  and  it  was  made  itself  memorable  by  the 
thrilling  exodus  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland.  The 
Old  School  Assembly  of  the  previous  year  had  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  mature  a  plan  for  a  bi-centen- 
uial  commemoration,  in  which  other  Presbyterian 
bodies  also  might  be  interested.  Now  it  was  resolved 
to  reconmiend  a  more  general  indoctrination  of  both 


mSTOEICAL    EEVIEW    OF   THE    CHUKCH.  167 

young  and  old  in  tlie  Westminster  standards,  and  in 
struction  by  pastors,  on  the  first  of  July,  the  anniver- 
sary of  the  assembling  of  the  divines,  or  at  some  other 
convenient  time,  in  the  history  of  the  church's  strug- 
gles and  sufferings  for  the  maintenance  of  gospel 
faith  and  oixler.  A  resolution  of  sympathy  with 
that  portion  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  which  was 
contending  and  bearing  reproach  for  the  truth's  sake, 
was  also  adopted.  A  few  weeks  afterward,  intelli- 
gence came  of  the  secession  fi'om  that  church  of  four 
hundred  and  seventy  ministers,  with  about  six  hundi-ed 
congregations,  two  thousand  ruling  elders,  and  at  least 
one  million  of  worshippers.  "Since  the  Act  of  Uni 
formity,"  it  was  well  said,  "there  had  been  no  such 
public  and  general  sacrifice  of  interest  to  principle,  and 
it  could  not  fail  to  secui*e  the  approbation  and  admira- 
tion of  the  Christian  world."  The  seceding  ministers 
relinquished  yearly  stipends  amounting,  in  the  aggre 
gate,  to  about  half  a  million  of  dollars,  and  the  people 
their  places  of  worship  —  the  chm-ch  homes,  where 
their  fathers  before  them,  for  many  generations,  had 
called  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  and  waited  for  his 
word.  The  next  year,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  George  Lewis 
and  William  Chalmers  appeared  in  the  Assembly  as 
representatives  from  the  Free  Chm-ch,  of  which  they 
gave  most  interesting  and  soul-stirring  accounts;  and 
resolutions  of  the  warmest  welcome  and  s}Tnj)athy 
were  passed.  Contributions  also,  to  aid  the  Free 
Church,  were  recommended.  Other  delegates,  among 
whom  were  Dr.  Cunningham  and  Dr.  Burns,  subse- 
quently, by  their  public  addresses,  extended  this  glow 
of  sympathy  all  over  the  land.     It  may  here  be  added, 


168  PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCH. 

that  out  of  the  bi-centenary  commemoration  of  the 
Westminster  Assembly,  at  Edinburgh,  in  July,  1843, 
grew  the  Evangelical  Alliance  formed  in  August,  184G. 
The  subject  of  slavery  had  for  many  years,  in  some 
de«-ree,  agitated  the  chm*ch ;  but  the  General  Assembly 
had  taken  thereupon  no  decided  action  between  1818 
and  1845.  In  the  latter  year,  by  a  vote  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-eight  to  thirteen,  an  important  minute 
was  adopted,  which  itself  became,  at  once,  a  matter  of 
more  or  less  dispute.  Extreme  abolitionists  and  extreme 
pro-slavery  men  alike,  the  former  with  chagrin,  the 
latter  with  exultation,  maintained  that  it  vii-tually  an- 
nulled the  action  of  1818  ;  which,  though  unanimously 
approved  then  by  the  southern  as  well  as  the  northern 
commissioners,  had  condemned  slavery  as  "  a  gross  vio- 
lation of  the  most  precious  and  sacred  rights  of  human 
nature,"  and  declared  it  to  be  "  the  duty  of  all  Chi^is- 
tians  ...  to  use  theii*  honest,  earnest,  and  unwearied 
endeavors  ...  as  speedily  as  possible,  to  efface  this 
blot  on  our  holy  religion,  and  to  obtain  the  complete 
abolition  of  slavery  throughout  Christendom."  But 
by  the  chm'ch  at  large  the  deliverance  of  1845  has 
been  constantly  understood  to  deny  only  certain  unjus- 
tifiable inferences  fi-om  that  of  1818,  particularly  that 
slave-holders  ought  to  be  excluded  fi"om  membership  in 
the  visible  church  of  Chiist.  The  doctrine  of  the  Old 
School,  fi'om  first  to  last,  consistently  was,  that  slavery 
^vas  a  great  evil,  which,  as  soon  as  it  might  be  safely, 
ought  to  be  abolished ;  that  slave-holding,  however,  was 
not  ahvays  or  necessarily  a  sin ;  but  that  masters  ought 
faithfully  to  give  to  their  servants  "that  which  was 
just  and  equal,"  seeking  diligently  their  improvement 


HISTOKICAL    REVIEW    OF   THE    CHUECII.  169 

and  preparation  for  fi-eedom.  The  doctrine,  advanced 
chiefly  in  later  times,  and  which  found  some  advocates 
in  the  Presbyterian  Chm'ch  at  the  South,  that  slavery, 
like  the  family  relation,  was  a  divine  institution,  was 
never  at  all  countenanced  by  the  chui^ch  at  large ;  but 
was  virtually  and  decisively  condemned,  over  and  over 
again,  in  several  well  considered  and  unanimously  or 
almost  mianimously  approved  deliverances.  In  1846, 
the  Assembly's  previous  action  was  declared  consistent 
throughout,  and  all  that  was  needed ;  a  declaration 
which  in  substance  was  reiterated  in  1849. 

But  ultra  men  from  the  North  or  South  were  not  the 
only  ones  that  troubled  the  church  about  this  matter. 
It  was  pressed  uj^on  the  Asseml)ly  with  strong  determi- 
nation, and  occasionally,  in  the  view  of  many,  with 
severe,  if  not  unchristian  expression,  in  its  foreign  cor- 
respondence. The  Irish  General  Assembly,  in  particu- 
lar, took  upon  itself  the  office  of  rebuke,  which  led,  in 
1854,  to  a  suspension  of  intercourse  with  that  body,  a 
letter  fi'om  which  it  was  resolved  not  to  answer. 

During  the  whole  protracted  controversy  on  this  sub- 
ject, the  General  Assembly  continued  to  enjoin,  from 
time  to  time,  upon  the  southern  chm*ches,  increased  at- 
tention to  the  moral  and  religious  improvement  of  the 
slaves;  and  particularly  from  1845  to  1861,  we  find  in 
its  narratives  of  the  state  of  religion  frequent  accounts 
of  diligent  efforts  and  good  success  in  this  great  work. 
The  importance  of  those  efforts,  as  a  providential  pre 
parative  for  emancipation,  can  scarcely  be  overesti- 
mated. The  Boards  of  Domestic  Missions  and  Educa- 
tion were  heartily  interested  and  engaged  in  them ;  the 
former,  while  that  distinguished  Georgian,  the  Bev.  Dr. 


X 


170  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

C.  C.  Jones,  was  its  secretary,  to  an  unusual  degree  and 
with  the  happiest  effect.  No  man  better  than  he  un- 
derstood  the  demands  of  evangelical  work  among  the 
slave  population  of  the  South;  for  he  had  spent  his 
ministerial  life  in  it,  and  published  several  important 
volumes  as  the  fi'uit  of  his  long  experience.  Speaking 
of  the  improvement  of  this  class,  the  Assembly  con- 
vened at  Nash\dlle,  Tennessee,  in  1855,  said  in  its  narra- 
tive, "  In  few,  if  any  of  our  Southern  States,  are  laws 
enforced  forbidding  that  slaves  be  taught  to  read. 
Usually,  as  far  as  among  any  other  class.  Sabbath 
schools  are  sustained  for  their  instruction.  .  .  .  And  we 
believe  ourselves  to  be  speaking  the  language  of  sober 
truth,  when  we  say  there  are  in  om-  southern  chui-ches 
thousands  of  slave-owners,  whose  desu'e  and  effort  is  to 
prepare  those  whom  an  inscrutable  providence  has  cast 
upon  their  care,  for  a  state  of  liberty  and  self-control 
they  cannot  yet  enjoy;  and  whose  fervent  prayer  is, 
that  God  would  hasten  the  day  of  safe  and  salutary 
freedom  to  men  of  every  clime." 

It  is  a  significant  fact,  that  the  emancipation  of  the 
slaves  by  military  and  civil  authority  in  1863  and  af- 
terward, with  the  general  rejoicing  over  this  great 
event  at  the  North,  and  the  fervor  of  thankso-ivinsr 
which  it  excited,  did  not  render  it  necessaiy  for  the 
Old  School  Church  to  rescind  or  modify  one  of  its  de- 
liverances upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  It  is  believed 
that  those  deliverances  express  its  mind  at  the  present 
time  as  truly  as  they  ever  did.  And  when  the  Assem- 
bly of  1864  was  called,  in  God's  providence,  to  fi'ame  a 
minute  expressive  of  its  sentiments,  in  view  of  the 
emancipation  decreed  by  om*  national' government,  all 


mSTOEICAL    REVIEW   OF   THE    CHUECH.  171 

the  grand  abiding  jDrinciples  of  that  minute  were 
quoted  carefully  from  its  own  previous  utterances. 
Yet  the  paper  fully  satisfied  the  public  mind,  even  at  a 
moment  of  the  greatest  excitement  and  clamor.  Hap- 
pily this  whole  subject  seems  to  have  been  put,  in 
God's  goodness,  beyond  the  possibility  of  further  dis- 
turbing the  church's  peace. 

Sometimes  it  has  been  intimated,  that  pro-slavery 
tendencies  on  the  part  of  the  Old  School  were  among 
the  most  influential  causes  of  the  division  of  1838.  No 
allegation  could  be  more  entirely  opjDosed  to  historical 
truth.  A  careful  reading  of  all  the  official  documents 
of  that  time,  when,  too,  crimination  and  recrimination 
were  loosely  prevalent,  will  not  disclose  the  slightest 
hint  of  such  a  charge  from  any  quarter.  Nay,  the  As- 
sembly of  1835,  in  which  there  was  a  decided  Old 
School  majority,  appointed  a  committee  to  report  upon 
slavery;  but  the  Assembly  of  1836,  in  which  the  New 
School  had  altogether  their  own  way,  postponed  the 
whole  subject  indefinitely  by  a  vote  of  one  hundi-ed 
and  fifty-four  to  eighty -seven. 

When,  in  1812,  the  first  theological  seminary  of  the 
Presbyterian  Chui'ch  was  established  at  Princeton, 
there  was  a  very  general  sentiment  in  favor  of  concen- 
tratino^  the  resources  of  the  whole  chiu-ch  in  a  sinojle 
thoroughly  equipped  institution.  Even  then,  however, 
the  advocates  of  this  plan  encountered  a  few  warm  op- 
posers  ;  and  these,  with  the  increase  of  Presbyterian- 
ism,  and  its  spread  over  a  constantly  widening  territory, 
grew  so  numerous  and  jDowerful  as  to  change  altogether 
the  policy  of  the  chui'ch  in  this  respect.  In  favor  of 
the  multiplication  of  seminaries  have  been  ui'ged,  the 


172  PRESBYTERIAN    CIIUKCII. 

cost  to  students,  in  time  and  money,  of  travelling  to  dis- 
tant parts  of  the  land ;  the  advantage  of  interesting  the 
denomination  more  generally  in  theological  education 
and  the  increase  of  the  ministry ;  the  undue  influence 
which  might  be  exerted  by  theological  professors,  if  the 
training  of  the  church's  candidates  were  committed  to 
but  a  few,  and  the  evil  —  a  sj)ecial  benefit  as  it  was  once 
considered  —  of  casting  all  in  one  mould ;  the  fact  that 
an  education  at  the  North  or  East  unfitted  j^ersons 
sometimes,  to  labor  in  the  South  or  West,  particularly 
in  slave  states ;  and  the  danger  that  young  men  going 
far  away  from  home  to  pursue  their  studies  would 
nc\'er  return,  or  that,  at  least,  churches  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  divinity  school  would  attract  and  retain 
the  ablest  of  them.  The  new  j)olicy  of  multiplying 
8uch  schools  had  so  far  prevailed  prior  to  the  di^dsion 
in  1838,  that  about  half  a  score  of  them  were  already 
more  or  less  actively  competing  for  the  patronage  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Of  these,  the  Seminary  at  Prince- 
ton and  the  Western  Seminary  at  Allegheny  were  un- 
der the  immediate  care  of  the  General  Assembly ;  Union 
Seminary  in  Virginia,  that  at  South  Hanover,  afterward 
at  New  Albany,  and  that  at  Columbia,  South  Carolina, 
under  immediate  synodical  suj^ervision ;  and  Auburn  Sem- 
inary, Lane  Seminary  at  Cincinnati,  and  Union  Seminary 
in  New  York  City ;  New  School  institutions,  under  con- 
trol of  Presbyteries,  or  of  their  resj^ective  corporations. 
In  1853,  the  subject  of  another  seminary  for  the  West 
was  brought  before  the  Assembly  by  numerous  over- 
tures and  proposals.  All  parties  seemed,  at  first,  to 
be  agreed,  that  the  new  institution  should  command 
the  whole  patronage  of  the  Old  School  body  west  of 


HISTOEICAL   EE\r[EW    OF   THE    CHTJECH.  173 

the  appropriate  limits  of  that  at  Allegheny.  As  to  its 
location  there  was  great  diversity  of  opinion.  Of  six 
places  named,  three  only,  however,  came  into  active 
competition,  —  New  Albany,  Saint  Louis,  and  Danville. 
Danville  was  at  length  fixed  upon  by  a  decided  ma- 
jority ;  but  its  selection  was  regarded  as  an  abandon- 
ment of  the  idea  of  a  single  institution  for  the  West : 
it  was  at  once  quite  apparent  that  the  North-west  could 
not  be  satisfied  with  a  seminary  so  far  south.  Besides, 
personal  energy,  influence,  and  zeal,  I'ather  than  the  true 
relations  and  wants  of  different  sections,  seemed  to 
have  given  the  triumph  to  Danville.  The  school  at 
New  Albany,  therefore,  which  was  to  have  been  merged 
in  the  new  one, was  continued  under  synodical  manage- 
ment, and  any  intention  to  interfere  with  it  was  dis- 
claimed by  the  next  Assembly.  In  1856,  the  Synods 
having  it  in  charge  resolved  upon  its  removal  to  Chi- 
cago ;  and  a  want  of  hai-mony  among  its  fi'iends,  ^vith 
the  munificent  offer  of  Mr.  C.  H.McCormick  to  endow 
it  witli  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  provided  it 
should  be  permantly  located  at  Chicago  and  put  under 
the  control  of  the  General  Assembly,  determined  them 
to  apply  to  the  latter  to  take  it  in  charge.  A  consider- 
able endowment  was  also  promised,  if  the  institution 
should  be  fixed  at  Indianapolis ;  but  the  advocates  of 
Chicago  prevailed  by  a  very  large  majority.  Here  the 
Presbyterian  Seminary  of  the  North-west,  as  it  was 
named,  has  since  had  its  location.  With  the  churches 
of  the  South,  when  they  seceded,  the  institutions  in  Vir- 
ginia and  South  Carolina  of  course  remained.  Four 
theological  seminaries,  therefore,  all  under  the  control 
of  the  General  Assembly,  the  Old  School  bring  into  the 


174  PEESBYTEPvIAN   CHURCn. 

reunited  cliurcli.  That  at  Princeton  celebrated  in 
1862,  with  appropriate  observances,  its  fiftieth  anni- 
versary. 

The  few  years  immediately  preceding  the  Southern 
Kebellion  were  years  of  special  activity  and  prosperity 
though  not  mthout  apprehensions,  difficulties,  and  trials, 
in  the  Old  School  Church.  In  June,  1857,  eight  be- 
loved missionaries  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  in  North- 
ern India,  —  Messrs.  Freeman,  Campbell,  Johnson,  and 
McMullin,  and  their  mves,  with  two  little  childi'en, 
Willy  and  Fanny  Campbell, — fell  by  the  cruel  hands  of 
the  notoiious  Nana  Sahib  and  the  Sepoy  mutineers. 
Money  was  fi-eely  offered  for  their  release  and  that  of 
other  captives  by  a  rich  gentleman  among  the  latter. 
"  It  is  blood  we  want,  not  money,"  was  the  reply.  For 
Christian  l^lood,  indeed,  the  ]3oor  heathen  were  thii-st- 
ing.  With  the  faith  of  true  martyrs,  these  devoted  men 
and  women  yielded  up  their  lives.  The  intelligence  of 
the  complicated  hoj-rors  of  that  rebellion  thrilled 
deeply  and  powerfully  the  hearts  of  God's  people  in 
this  and  other  lands.  Here,  upon  its  reception,  days  of 
special  prayer  were  -widely  observed,  and  supplication 
for  India  seemed  to  be  the  spontaneous  utterance  of  the 
whole  church.  In  God's  good  providence  and  faithful 
remembrance  of  his  covenant,  the  mutiny  was  arrested, 
and  a  wider  door  of  usefulness  than  ever  before  was 
opened  in  that  benighted  land ;  while  in  this  country, 
especially  duiing  the  fall  and  winter,  most  of  the  evan- 
gelical chm'ches,  the  Old  School  Chui'ch  among  the  rest, 
were  graciously  and  signally  revived  and  inci*eased. 
The  Fulton-street  daily  prayer-meeting  in  New  Yoi'k, 
the  forerunner  and  model  of  many  of  a  similar  kind, 


rnSTOEICAL    KEVTEW    OF   THE   CIIUKCH.  IVO 

was  established.  The  glad  tidings  flew  across  the 
ocean,  and  a  remarkable  "Year  of  Grace"  was  vouch- 
safed to  the  chui'ches  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 
But,  before  these  had  felt  the  Sj^irit's  breath,  our  sur- 
viving missionaries  in  Northern  India  had  been  aroused 
by  the  good  news  from  America;  and  after  much 
prayer  and  a  blessed  refreshing,  they  had  recommended 
the  devotion,  in  every  land,  of  a  week  in  January,  1860, 
to  united  supplication  for  a  lost  world.  The'Evangeli- 
cal  Alliance  heartily  endorsed  the  suggestion,  and  hence 
the  "  Week  of  Prayer "  since  so  generally  observed. 
Thus  again  became  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  the  seed 
of  the  church. 

The  gracious  revivals  mentioned,  which  but  little 
prevailed  south  of  what  are  now  kno^vn  as  the  Border 
States,  were  a  merciful  preparation  for  the  di^ead  life- 
struggle  which  followed.  And  already,  in  both  church 
and  state,  the  mutterings  of  the  fearful  storm  were 
heard.  The  southern  commissioners  to  the  New  School 
General  Assembly  of  1857,  offended  by  its  anti-slavery 
action,  called  a  convention,  the  result  of  which  was  the 
subsequent  organization  of  the  United  Synod  of  the 
Presbyterian  Chm'ch  in  the  United  States  of  America. 
Such  men  as  Dr.  F.  A.  Eoss  and  Dr.  A.  H.  H.  Boyd 
^vere  opposed  to  a  proffer  of  union  with  the  Old 
School,  against  Avhich  various  reasons  were  urged; 
among  these,  the  "  exscinding  acts  "  unrepented  of ;  the 
examination  of  applicants  to  presbytery ;  very  serious 
doctrinal  differences  as  to  original  sin,  the  atonement, 
and  other  points ;  the  denial  of  each  one's  right  to  in- 
terpret the  Confession  of  Faith  for  himself ;  and,  above 
all,  blind  persistence  in  the  "  toleration  theory  "as  to 


176  PRESBYTERIAX   CHURCn. 

slave-holders,  in  spite  of  the  discoveiy  by  certain 
southern  illuminati  that  slaveiy  was  a  permanent 
divine  ordinance.  The  profPer,  nevertheless,  was  at 
length  unanimously  made,  upon  certain  "  indispensable 
terms,"  which,  however,  the  Old  School  Assembly  of 

1858  decided,  did  "not  afford  a  basis  of  conference  " 
promising  the  advancement  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
or  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  In  1863,  the  Synod 
was  invited  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  Confederate  States  to  a  negotia- 
tion, which  resulted,  the  next  year,  in  a  union  between 
the  two  bodies,  under  the  name  of  the  latter. 

Extreme  southern  opinions  were  now  overbearingly 
ui'ged  upon   the  Old  School.     In   the  Assemblies  of 

1859  and  1860,  Dr.  Thorn  well,  a  man  of  lovely  charac- 
ter but  inexorable  in  debate,  maintained,  in  the  interest, 
of  course,  of  slavery,  that  the  church  is  so  purely 
spiritual,  so  completely  restricted  to  the  simple  busi- 
ness of  saving  men,  so  absolutely  limited  to  what  the 
Bible  in  express  words  commanded  or  permitted,  that 
all  ecclesiastical  action  in  regard  to  Bible  Societies, 
Temperance,  Colonization,  Slavery,  or  the  Slave-trade, 
and  all  church  boards  are  unla^vful.  This  new  and 
startling  doctrine,  contrary  to  the  whole  current  of 
Presbyterian  usage  and  tradition,  was,  of  course,  not  ac- 
cepted by  the  Assembly,  although,  at  first,  some  feared 
the  eloquent  Southron  would  prevail. 

In  April,  1861,  the  storm  of  civil  war,  which  had 
been  for  months,  in  visible  blackness,  hanging  over  the 
country,  burst  upon  it  with  the  thunder  of  the  bom- 
bardment of  Fort  Sumter.  On  the  sixteenth  of  May, 
the  General  Assembly  met  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 


inSTOKICAL   REVIEW    OF   THE   CnUECH.  177 

It  met,  of  course,  in  tlie  midst  of  unparalleled  excite- 
ment, and  wlien  public  opinion,  if  not  evident  duty, 
required  from  every  man  and  every  organized  body  of 
men,  an  open  declaration  of  principles  as  to  the  terrible 
conflict  ali'eady  commenced,  and  soon  widely  and  fear- 
fully to  rage.  Only  some  thirteen  commissioners  ap- 
peared from  the  seceding  states,  seven  of  whom  were 
fi'om  ^vithin  the  bounds  of  the  Synod  of  Mississippi. 
A  very  large  part  of  the  time  of  the  Assembly  was 
taken  up  in  the  warm  and  able  discussion  of  several 
papers  offered  upon  the  state  of  the  country.  It  was 
e\adent  that  a  majority,  in  the  beginning,  w^ould  have 
been  glad  to  avoid  the  subject  altogether;  but  now 
that  it  was  forced  upon  them,  would  not  silence,  or  a 
refusal  to  express  loyal  sentiments,  be  misconstrued? 
In  the  end,  a  decision  was  made  simply  between  two 
papers  in  substance  not  unlike,  but  in  form  a  declara- 
tion, one  of  them  by  the  Assembly,  the  othei^  by  tJie 
7iumhers  of  the  Assembly;  a  difference  which  many 
regarded  as  distinguishing  between  an  authoritative  act 
and  a  mere  opinion  of  certain  individuals.  The  vener- 
al^Ie  Dr.  Spring  had  offered  the  former,  as  in  substance 
it  w^as  at  length  adopted  by  a  vote  of  one  hundred  and 
iifty-six  to  sixty-six,  the  minority  protesting.  It  recom- 
mended a  day  of  prayer,  professed  loyalty  to  'the 
Federal  Government,  and  declared  it  a  duty  to  support 
that  government  and  j^reserve  the  Union.  Several  in- 
ferior judicatories  at  the  North,  pronounced  this  deliv- 
erance inconsistent  mth  the  constitution,  and  with  the 
word  of  God.  Some  who  viewed  it  thus,  did  not 
object,  however,  to  similar  declarations  made  by  subse- 
quent   Assemblies  after    the    southern    chm'ches   had 

13 


178  PRESBYTERIA?T    CHURCn. 

witlidrfiAvn.  Tlieir  idea  was,  that  a  jiidicator}^  repre- 
senting Christians  in  states  that  had  seceded  had  no 
right  to  decide  for  them  the  political  questions,  whether 
secession  was  lawful,  and  whether  allegiance  was  due 
primarily  to  the  individual  state  or  to  the  United 
States.  But  it  was  asked,  Does  not  a  judicatory  repre- 
senting only  Christians  in  states  that  have  not  seceded, 
decide  virtually  the  same  questions,  in  pledging  them- 
selves to  assist  in  a  war  to  prevent  secession,  a  war  ut- 
terly unjust  if  secession  be  lawful,  and  the  people  of 
the  South  be  suffering  persecution  for  righteousness' 
sake? 

In  the  fall  of  1861,  met  the  first  General  Assembly 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  Confederate  States. 
This  secession  di-ew  off,  first  and  last,  about  seven  hun- 
dred ministers  and  twelve  hundred  chm'ches.  It  is  not 
probable  that  it  was  precipitated  by  the  action  in 
Philadelphia,  although  that  action  was  made  in  part 
to  bear  the  blame.  How  could  Christians  remam 
united  in  the  church,  while  fiercely  fighting  against 
one  another  along  the  whole  dividing  line  of  their 
respective  territories  ? 

Every  subsequent  Assembly  during  the  war  added 
something  to  the  chm-ch's  testimony  on  the  subject  of 
all-absorbing  interest,  the  state  of  the  country.  Once 
and  again  regret  was  manifested  that  it  was  further 
pressed ;  many  thought  that  enough  had  been  said  and 
done  to  establish  a  character  for  loyalty,  and  to  satisfy 
even  the  popular  demand  for  an  outspoken  declaration 
of  principles;  but  each  new  body  of  commissioners 
found,  in  ever-fi*esh  zeal  for  the  country,  and  current 
soul-stirring  events,  abundant  reason  for  new  deliver- 


mSTOEICAL   REVIEW    OF   THE    CHDHCH.  179 

aiices.  Especially  when  enthusiastic  men  had  in- 
troduced the  subject,  it  was  sufficient  to  plead  that 
h(»^sitation  would  imply  indifference,  a  refusal  sym- 
pathy with  the  South;  and  discussion  having  once 
commenced,  feelings  were  soon  aroused  which  car- 
ried the  body  away  captive  in  the  chains  of  patriotic 
emotion. 

The  deliverances  of  the  Assembly  on  this  subject 
after  1861,  so  far  as  they  added  any  material  idea  to 
the  testimony  of  that  year,  condemned  most  unequivo- 
cally the  rebellion  for  the  perpetuation  of  negro 
bondage,  as  a  monstrous  iniquity,  to  be  earnestly  re- 
sisted and  "  force  crushed  by  force ; "  yet  called  upon 
the  loyal  j^eople  of  the  country  to  humble  themselves 
before  God,  confessing  both  national  and  individual 
sins,  that  the  divine  anger  might  be  turned  away ;  and 
declared  that  the  time  had  come,  when  every  vestige  of 
slaveiy  should  be  swej^t  -from  the  land,  and  when  every 
Christian  should  address  himself  earnestly  to  the  ac- 
complishment of  that  work.  Then,  the  war  having 
abruptly  terminated,  thanks  were  returned,  the  whole 
Assembly  in  the  vote  rising  to  its  feet,  for  the  conduct 
and  issue  of  the  struggle,  and  the  emancipation  of  four 
millions  of  slaves ;  Abraham  Lincoln  was  eulogized,  his 
sad  death  deplored,  and  a  blessing  invoked  upon  his 
successor  in  the  chief  magistracy;  the  Board  of  Do- 
mestic Missions,  which  has  always  exercised  a  full  dis- 
cretion as  to  the  chai-acter  of  its  missionaries,  was 
directed  to  aid  no  disloyal  minister,  nor  any  one  not  in 
cordial  sympathy  mth  the  Assembly  in  its  "  testimony 
on  doctrine,  loyalty,  and  fi^eedom ; "  churches  and  judi- 
catories  were   forbidden   to    receive   from   the   South 


180  PRESBYTERIAN    CHUllCII. 

applicants  wlio  had  voluntarily  participated  in  tlie  re- 
bellion, or  held  that  slavery  was  a  di\'ine  ordinance,  or 
that,  in  the  words  of  the  Southern  Assembly,  it  was 
"the  peculiar  mission  of  the  Southern  Church  to  con- 
serve "  it,  Avithout  repentance  of  then-  sin  and  error ; 
and  they  were  dii-ected  to  suspend,  pending  discipline, 
or  erase  fi'om  the  I'oll  after  two  years'  absence,  minis- 
ters who  were  fugitives  or  exiles  on  account  of  disloy- 
alty, or  had  gone  south  and  aided  in  the  rebellion. 
Fui'ther,  the  southern  church  secession  was  declared 
schismatical,  and  the  intention  of  the  Chm-ch  North  not 
to  abandon  the  southern  field  asserted.  At  the  same 
time,  kindness  and  a  concilatory  spirit  were  recom- 
mended toward  the  erring,  especially  the  younger,  more 
impulsive,  and  less  guilty  of  them;  and  the  constant 
tempering  of  justice  with  mercy. 

A  little  incident  of  the  year  1863,  may  illustrate  the 
excitement  of  feeling  in  which  every  church  judica- 
tory during  the  war  convened.  A  motion  w^as  made  to 
i-aise  the  national  flag  over  the  church  edifice  occupied 
by  the  Assembly  at  Peoria.  A  large  minority  were  for 
laying  this  motion  on  the  table,  but  it  was  referred  in 
due  dilatory  form  to  a  committee.  While  the  latter 
Avere  deliberating^,  however,  "  the  fire  burned "  in  some 
liearts,  and  the  trustees  of  the  church  were  ui-ged  to 
hoist  the  flag  without  waiting  for  the  issue  of  pai-lia- 
mentaiy  pi'ocess.  Might  not  the  stars  and  stripes  un- 
folded to  the  eye  quicken  deliberation  upon  them? 
The  trustees,  with  a  slight  stretch  of  authority,  though 
hardly  a  stretch  of  I'everence  for  the  embodied  wisdom 
of  the  church,  yielded  to  this  suggestion ;  and  the  As- 
s«.'mljly  afterward  gi-avely  decided,  that  as  the  thing 


inSTOEICAL    REVIEW    OF   THE    CHTJECH.  181 

had  been  done,  their  fui-ther  attention  to  it  was  unnec- 
essary. 

A  statement  of  the  grounds  upon  which  these  various 
acts  of  the  supreme  judicatoiy,  most  of  them  more  or 
less  earnestly  contested,  were  by  their  advocates  sus- 
tained, will  exhibit  sufficiently  the  argument  on  both 
sides.  Kindness,  it  was  said,  to  the  erring,  might  be 
serious  unldndness  to  the  church  and  nation;  there 
were  hi2:her  interests  at  stake  than  the  retention  of  the 
southern  chiu'ches;  and  loyal  Christians  at  the  North 
would  not  be  satisfied  without  the  fullest  declai-ation  of 
loyalty,  and  the  plainest  dealing  with  the  rebellion  as 
an  atrocious  iniquity.  The  duty  to  condemn  sin  Avas 
lU'ged,  especially  sin  so  monstrous  and  destructive. 
Repentance  neither  the  state  nor  political  parties  de- 
manded, but  the  chm*ch  never  restored  o:ffenders  with- 
out it,  and  was  to  be  governed  by  a  simple  regard  to 
right  far  more  than  to  policy.  No  terms  of  communion 
unknown  to  Presbyterianism  had  been  established,  no 
new  offences  created.  Were  not  the  ten  command- 
ments part  of  the  church  standards;  and  had  not  the 
Assembly  always  exercised  the  right  of  laying  do^vn 
conditions  for  the  reception  of  outside  ministers,  in 
the  position  of  which  those  at  the  South  had  really 
put  themselves,  and  of  enjoining  examinations  which 
supposed  a  liberty  to  reject  aj^plicants,  and  which 
eveiy  church  court  was  confessedly  entitled  to  make  ? 
All  moral  and  religious  questions,  no  matter  on  ^vhat 
other  questions  of  a  secular  kind  they  depended  for 
settlement,  the  church  could  rightfully  decide.  Must 
a  con\dcted  smuggler,  sent  to  the  state-prison,  remain 
in  good  ecclesiastical  standing,  because  his   guilt  de- 


182  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

pended  wholly  upon  the  interpretation  of  positive  civil 
laws?  Must  a  murderer  continue  an  unimpeached 
church-inembor,  because  his  conviction  required,  in  the 
chuich  as  in  the  state,  the  settlement  of  such  a  mere 
scientific  and  professional  question  as  that  of  medical 
malpractice  ?  In  cases  of  this  kind,  the  chui-ch  could 
not  mei-ely  follow  state  decisions,  which  might  be  glar- 
ingly unrighteous.  By  such  decisions  Christians  had 
often  been  persecuted ;  by  such  a  decision  Christ  him- 
self was  crucified.  It  w^as  admitted  that,  erroneous 
political  opinions,  generally  prevalent  and  imbibed  in 
eai'ly  years,  were  a  gi-eat  palliation  of  political  offences, 
and  made  lenient  disciplme  specially  desii-able  in  the 
present  case. 

The  action  of  the  Assembly  upon  the  state  of  the 
country  and  of  the  church  gave  great  offence  to  some 
persons,  particularly  in  the  border  states.  The  Presby- 
tery of  Louisville  issued  a  "Declaration  and  Testi- 
mony," to  which  they  solicited  the  signatui-e  of  all  their 
brethren  who  agreed  with  them.  The  whole  number 
of  signers,  first  and  last,  was  something  like  one  hun- 
di-ed  and  twenty ;  say  forty-two  ministers  and  seventy- 
eight  elders.  This  paper  testified  against  various 
errors  in  acts  of  the  Assembly  growing  out  of  the  war, 
errors  which,  of  course,  were  attributed  to  political 
views  and  feelings.  Two  things  at  least  secui'ed  its 
very  general  condemnation.  Its  language  was  grossly 
unbecoming.  It  charged  the  Assembly,  for  example, 
witli  unjust  and  scandalous  self-contradiction,  malignity, 
and  even  falsehood.  Moreover,  it  raised  avowedly  the 
standard  of  I'evolt,  inaugui'ating  in  the  chui-ch  what 
had  just  been  attempted  in  the  state.     This  ecclesias- 


HISTOEICAL   EEVmW   OF   THE    CHUECH.  188 

tical  rebellion  took  tlie  place,  in  the  Assembly  of  1866, 
at  St.  Louis,  of  tlie  civil  rebellion  wliicli  had  j^roduced 
such  protracted  agitation,  as  a  soui'ce  of  excitement 
and  vehement  debate. 

Dr.  Eobert  J.  Breckim-idge  had  endeavored  to  ex- 
clude the  signers  of  the  Declaration  and  Testimony 
fi'om  the  Synod  of  Kentucky,  and  had  appealed  to  the 
Assembly  against  their  admission.  This  case,  however, 
was  passed  by,  and  the  commissioners  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Louisville  were  summarily,  -without  allowance 
of  argument,  excluded  from  the  house  until  their  case 
could  be  adjudged.  Afterward,  when  it  was  brought 
forward,  they  were  invited  to  defend  themselves,  but 
declined.  At  length,  the  Assembly,  but  not  ^vithout 
the  warmest,  most  excited  discussion,  adopted,  by  a 
vote  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-six  to  thirty-seven,  a 
paper  offered  by  Dr.  P.  D.  Gurley,  in  substance  con- 
demning the  Declaration  and  Testimony  as  slanderous, 
schismatical,  and  rebellious;  summoning  its  adopters 
and  signers  to  the  bar  of  the  next  Assembly ;  forbid- 
ding them  to  sit,  meanwhile,  in  any  church  court  above 
the  session ;  and  declaring  every  such  coui't  admitting 
any  of  them  to  be  ijpso  facto  dissolved,  its  power  pass- 
ing into  the  hands  of  those  adhering  to  the  order  of 
the  Assembly. 

In  suj^port  of  this  action,  it  was  urged  that  the  As- 
sembly was  a  body,  not  of  limited  powers  given  to  it 
by  its  constitution,  but  of  powers  unlimited  —  all  the 
power  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  excepting  what  the 
constitution  expressly  took  away ;  that  every  delibera- 
tive body  had  an  absolute  discretion  in  regard  to  the 
qualifications  of  its  members,  and  the  preservation,  as 


184  PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCII. 

against  tliose  members,  of  its  own  dignity  and  tlie  dig- 
nity of  its  constituency ;  that  tlie  effectual  rebuke  of  vie*- 
lence  and  prevention  of  rebellion  demanded,  in  this 
case,  sharp  work;  and  tliat  the  offence  of  the  Louis- 
ville Presbytery  and  its  commissioners,  as  the  original 
and  most  flagrant  one,  required  special  treatment. 

In  vieAv  of  the  impoi'tance  and  exigency  of  the  crisis, 
a  preliminary  convention  had  been  called,  after  the 
manner  of  the  troublous  times  preceding  the  division  of 
the  church  in  1838,  to  meet  at  St.  Louis.  It  was  quite 
numerously  attended,  and  sent  in  a  memorial  to  the 
Assembly,  "w^hich  was  treated  mth  respect,  but  as  pro- 
posing nothing  desirable  after  the  deliverances  already 
made.  The  issue  proved  that  the  call  of  the  convention 
had  been  unnecessary,  as  indeed,  beforehand,  it  had 
been  generally  regarded. 

As  the  i-esult  of  all  this,  the  Synods  of  Kentucky  and 
Missouri,  with  the  presbyteries  belonging  to  them,  were 
divided,  and  the  Assembly  of  1867  adjudged  those  por- 
tions of  the  several  judicatories  which  had  obeyed  the 
orders  of  1866  to  have  the  true  succession;  but  concilia- 
tory measures,  though  without  the  relinquishment  of 
principle,  were  adopted,  remitting  the  cases  of  the 
signers  of  the  Declaration  and  Testimony  to  the  lower 
courts,  and  providing  for  the  return  of  all  who  might  be 
^villing  to  promise  oh)edieuce  in  the  Lord,  and  disclaim 
intentional  disrespect,  and  for  dropping  the  names  of 
the  rest.  In  1868,  the  Assembly  refused  to  modify 
this  action,  but  gave  j)ermission  to  the  Synods  of  Ken- 
tucky and  Missouri  to  do,  in  the  whole  matter,  anything 
consistent  with  the  honor  and  authority  of  the  supreme 
indicatory,  for  the  sake  of  peace  and  order.     The  Dec- 


mSTOEICAL    REVIEW    OF   THE    CHUKCH.  185 

laration  and  Testimony  men,  liowever,  are  now,  in  gen- 
eral, with  the  southern  secession,  or  by  themselves. 

As  early  as  18 66,  the  Assembly  had  declared  that 
it  deplored  greatly  the  separation  of  the  southern 
churches,  and  earnestly  desired  a  reunion  on  the  basis 
of  the  standards,  and  on  terms  consistent  with  truth 
and  righteousness.  In  1867,  generous  contributions 
for  the  relief  of  destitution  at  the  South  were  recom- 
mended. The  next  year,  the  Southern  Presl^yterian 
Church  was  recognized  as  independent,  with  the  expres- 
sion of  an  earnest  hope,  that,  although  its  separation 
could  not  be  justified,  it  might  return  to  its  former  rela- 
tions ;  and  in  1869,  Christian  salutations  were  addressed 
to  it,  with  the  assui-ance  of  a  strong  desire  for  a  general 
reunion  among  Presbyterians  throughout  the  land. 

Our  sketch,  thus  far,  of  ecclesiastical  events  during 
and  since  the  war,  makes  several  things  which  deserve 
consideration  sufficiently  evident.  In  the  Assembly  as 
well  as  out  of  it,  ministers  and  ruling  elders  acted  often 
under  great  excitement,  which  it  would  be  extreme 
folly  to  say  was  not  unfavorable  to  wise  action.  But 
how  great  had  been  the  provocation  !  How  impossi- 
ble it  was,  the  war  still  raging,  for  men  whose  sons, 
brothers,  or  other  near  relatives  were  at  the  moment 
exposed  to  death  upon  the  field,  if  their  lives  had  not 
been  already  offered  up,  to  view  the  rebellion  calmly, 
or  express  themselves  upon  it  with  moderation,  or 
punctilious  propriety.  One  reason  why  prudently  mod- 
erate men  sometimes  failed  to  get  the  ear  of  the  chm'ch 
was,  that  rank  sympathizers  with  the  South  hailed 
them  as  allies,  and  threw  upon  them  suspicion.  Now, 
when  the  danger  has  passed  away,  we  can  imagine  the 


186  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

eveut  to  have  proved  tliat  others  were  hasty,  i-ash,  un 
necessarily  alarmed  and  severe.  The  acts  of  men  in 
great  peril  are  to  be  judged  of,  however,  by  that  peril 
as  imminent,  rather  than  by  a  subsequent  providential 
escape ;  and,  indeed,  who  can  say  that  the  Union  would 
have  been  preserved,  without  the  resolute,  it  may  be 
the  stern,  violent  patriotism  of  northern  Christians? 
Nor  is  a  general  disposition  now,  the  emergency  having 
ceased,  to  relax  the  rigor  of  previous  enactments,  any 
evidence  that  they  were  oViginally  unjustifiable.  ^Ve 
approached,  even  at  the  North,  very  near  to  that  con- 
dition actually  ex]:)erienced  by  large  jDortions  of  the 
South,  in  which  constitutions  and  laws  crumble  away, 
and  natural  right  and  Christian  piinciple  remain  the 
only  social  bonds.  Well  may  we  be  thankful  that  the 
review  demands  so  little  regret ;  that  the  great  princi- 
ples of  the  Gospel  and  of  Presbyterianism  were  so  well 
sustained ;  that  so  little,  if  any,  essential  injustice  AvaF 
done;  that  narrow  limits  to  beneficial  and  patriotic 
chm'ch  action  were  not  allowed  to  be  set.  Had  •\vf 
I'ealized  the  proverb,  Inter  arma  silent  leges^  it  had 
hardly  been  a  wonder ;  but  the  gracious  Head  of  thf 
Church  saved  us  from  that  calamity:  to  him  be  the 
pi'aise  !  It  is  not  pi-obable,  either,  that  a  more  concilia  ■ 
toiy  coui'se  in  the  northern  Assembly  would  have 
even  retarded  the  southern  chiu'ch  secession ;  which  was 
deliberately  designed  to  aid  the  rebellion  and  carry  out 
its  foregone  conclusions,  as  clearly  as  om*  acts  Avere  de- 
signed to  strengtlien  the  national  government.  Besides, 
it  may  Avell  ])e  doubted  Avhether  the  coherence,  d'xiiug 
the  war  at  least,  of  the  northern  and  southerr  por- 
tions of  the  chui'ch  Avas  desirable.     Men  cannot   alter- 


inSTOEICAL    REVIEW    OP   THE    CHURCH.  187 

nately,  go  out  and  iiglit  against  eacli  otlier  to  the  death, 
and  come  in  together  to  the  Lord's  table,  at  once  con 
sistent  foes  and  consistent  friends.  No  church  could 
presei've  its  oneness  the  land  over,  through  such  a  civil 
war  as  ours,  unless  the  Chui-ch  of  Rome,  Avith  its  bond 
of  union  in  another  and  distant  country. 

Leaving  now  a  topic  which  might  well  have  occu- 
pied a  much  larger  space,  it  may  be  desirable,  rumiing  • 
over  the  whole  period  of  this  history,  to  condense  into 
a  few  paragraphs,  in  the  order  of  time  rather  than  of 
logical  connection,  some  brief  allusions  to  events,  par- 
ticularly acts  of  the  General  Assembly,  to  which  little 
room  comparatively  can  be  given.  The  troubles  of 
1837  and  1838  interrupted  fi-aternal  intercourse  wdth 
various  evangelical  bodies  at  home  and  abroad,  with 
whicli,  however,  a  friendly  correspondence  was  speedily 
re-established.  Soon  after  the  division,  measui-es  were 
not  unsuccessfully  adopted  to  re^dve  and  invigorate  the 
office  of  deacon.  Various  arrangements  and  changes 
have  been  made  to  secui-e  to  the  boards  the  advantage 
of  2^eriodical  publications,  to  disseminate  intelligence 
of  their  work  throu2:h  the  chui'ches.  The  latest  ac- 
counts  shew  a  circulation  of  sixteen  thousand  copies  of 
the  monthly  Hecord ;  nearly  one  hundi'ed  thousand  of 
the  Sahbatli  ScJiool  Visitor  of  the  first,  with  thirty-foui' 
thousand  additional  copies  of  that  of  the  fifteenth,  of 
the  month;  and  three  thousand  five  hundi'ed  of  the 
pamphlet,  with  almost  fifty-two  thousand  of  the  aevv^s 
paper,  edition,  both  monthly,  of  the  Foreign  MissioTi- 
ary  ;  besides  many  thousands  of  the  several  yearly  re- 
ports and  of  various  occasional  issues.  From  about 
1819,  the  project  of  a  weekly  religious  2:)a23er,  like  the 


188  PRESBYTERIAN    CIIURCn. 

Methodist  Advocate,  was  pressed  upon  the  Assembly 
for  several  years  successively,  but  ^vithout  effect.  Yet 
the  chm-ch  has  always  aclsnowledged  the  unspeakable 
importance  of  religious  papers,  many  of  which  have 
been  established  by  private  enterprise.  The  value  of 
its  periodical  publications  to  the  Old  School,  before 
the  division,  none  can  estimate.  But  then  they  Avere 
weighty  with  doctrinal  discussion,  and  bristling  with 
the  arms  of  sturdy  polemics.  One  of  oui'  most  honored 
ministers  recently  said,  in  an  address  to  theological 
students,  "  I  cannot  help  thinking  we  shall  need,  in 
the  next  ten  years,  a  little  more  controversial  preach- 
ing : "  he  might  wisely,  perhaps,  have  added,  "  and  a 
little  more  doctrinal  and  controversial  newspaper 
writing," 

It  is  probable  that  Millenarianism  has  become  more 
prevalent  among  the  Old  School  than  it  was  in  1838, 
though  lately  it  seems  to  have  suffered  a  decline.  The 
Assembly  has  more  than  once  strongly  recommended 
preaching  without  manuscript  and  expository  preach- 
ing. It  has  discouraged  ordination  sine  titulo.  Twice 
the  presbyteries  have  virtually  declined  to  make  ])ro- 
vision  for  a  voluntary  demission  of  the  ministry. 
Twice  the  Assembly  has  refused  to  submit  to  them  a 
proposition  to  allow  marriage  Avith  a  deceased  wife's 
sister,  and  other  marriages  falling  within  tlie  same 
general  prohibition  ;  and  it  has  sustained  discipline  for 
such  a  connection,  Avith  the  explanation,  however,  that, 
though  the  union  was  sinful,  it  was  not  invalid  ;  and 
M'lth  the  result  that  church  judicatories,  as  to  discip- 
line in  this  case,  do  each  one  -what  is  i-ight  in  its  own 
eyes.     Total  abstinence   from  intoxicating  di-inks  has 


mSTOEICAL   EEVTEW   OF   THE    CHUECH.  189 

been  strongly  recommended,  tliougli  not  enjoined ;  un- 
less we  may  regard  the  equivocal  language  of  the 
Assembly's  acts  of  1865  and  1869  as  amounting  to  an 
injunction,  which  a  majority  of  the  church,  it  is  proba- 
ble, would  hardly  sustain.  Komish  baptisms,  after 
long  hesitation,  have  been  by  a  nearly  unanimous  vote 
declared  void.  The  subject  of  union,  more  or  less 
intimate,  with  evangelical,  and  especially  Presbyterian, 
bodies  in  the  United  States,  other  than  the  New  School, 
has  repeatedly  been  brought  before  the  Assembly,  and 
has  always  awakened  a  favorable  interest,  as  in  the 
cases  of  the  Presbyterian  National  Union  Convention 
of  1867,  and  the  National  Council  of  Evangelical 
Churches  proposed,  in  1869,  by  the  General  Synod  of 
the  Eeformed  Church.  The  ordinations  of  all  Protes- 
tant communions  have  been  pronounced  valid,  with  the 
express  proviso,  however,  that  ministers  received  fi'om 
other  bodies  must  230ssess  the  qualifications  requii'ed 
by  the  Presbyterian  standards.  The  dismission  of 
church-members  to  the  world  has  been  condemned.  In 
1853,  the  Assembly  addressed  a  memorial  to  Congress 
requesting  the  adoption  of  measui^es  for  securing  the 
rights  of  conscience  to  our  citizens  abroad.  The 
American  Bible  Society  and  the  American  Coloniza- 
tion Society  have  been  warmly  commended,  although 
the  alterations  made  by  the  former,  in  the  received 
English  version  and  its  accessories,  were  in  eifect  con- 
demned, though  not  mitil  the  society  had  itself  seen  its 
mistake  and  ^^dthdrawn  its  revised  editions.  In  1858, 
the  centennial  anniversary  of  the  reunion  of  the  Old 
and  New  Sides  was  celebrated.  The  Assembly  has  n;- 
fused  to  authorize  the  j^rej^aration  of  a  church-commen- 


190  PRESBYTERIAN    CUURCIT 

taiy  on  tlie  Bible.  The  subject  of  unemployed  minis- 
ters and  vacant  congregations  has  been  i-epeatedly  dis- 
cussed, but  mthout  any  effective  action.  Mr.  Joseph 
M.  Wilson,  the  indefatigable  advocate  of  church- 
manses,  has  succeeded  in  engaging  for  his  project  the 
favorable  attention  of  the  church. 

Thei-e  have  been  several  attempts,  during  the  same 
period,  to  make  important  changes  in  the  Form  of 
Government,  Book  of  Discipline  and  Directory  for 
Worship.  Offices  for  the  administration  of  baptism 
and  for  the  public  admission  of  church-members  have 
been  proposed,  but  have  not  found  favor.  An  able 
committee,  appointed  in  1864,  elaborated  a  plan  for 
trying  judicial  cases  in  synod  and  in  the  General  As- 
sembly by  a  commision  of  appeals  in  each,  composed  of 
four  ministers  and  four  elders,  elected,  two  every  year, 
for  four  years.  This  plan,  however,  was  rejected  by 
the  presbyteries,  although  it  has  been  an  almost  uni- 
versal conviction,  that  some  radical  change  ought  to  be 
effected  for  the  dispatch  of  judicial  business  in  our 
larger  ^hurch  courts.  The  entire  recasting  of  the 
Book  of  Discipline  has,  moreover,  been  before  the 
General  Assembly  and  the  church,  some  of  the  ablest, 
most  influential  men  having  been  engaged  in  the  work, 
ever  since  the  year  1857,  until  the  anticipation  of  reunion 
suggested  the  wisdom  of  lea\dng  the  business  to  be  con- 
summated by  the  reunited  body.  There  have  been, 
besides,  slight  and  wholly  ineffectual  efforts,  in  some 
quarters,  to  induce  the  church  to  return  to  the  use  of  a 
liturgy. 

The  interval  of  separation  has  been  one  of  veiy 
marked  literary  activity  in  the  Old  School  body.    Some 


mSTOKICAL    EEVIEW    OF   THE    CnUECH.  191 

thirty  original  volumes,  from  this  source,  of  coimneut 
upon  various  portions  of  Holy  Scripture  have  appeared ; 
and  a  very  large  number  of  important  works,  biograph- 
ical, historical,  dogmatical,  practical,  and  miscellaneous. 
Probably  no  other  denomination  in  the  United  States 
has  produced,  within  the  same  period,  so  many  theolog 
ical  books  of  standard  value. 

Before  the  southern  churches  seceded  in  1861,  that 
is,  in  twenty-three  years  fi'om  the  separation,  the  Old 
School  branch  had  much  more  than  doubled  the  number 
of  its  communicants,  ministers,  and  congregations.  And 
now,  after  that  secession  and  the  loss  also  of  the  Decla- 
ration and  Testimony  party,  it  re-enters,  with  forces  not 
very  far  from  double,  into  organic  union  with  the  New 
School.  To  the  Assembly  of  18(39,  additions  of  more 
than  fifteen  thousand  communicants  upon  examination 
were  reported,  and  contributions  for  congregational  and 
benevolent  purposes  of  between  four  and  a  half  and  five 
millions  of  dollars.  Excepting  the  troublous  times  of 
the  rebellion,  the  whole  period  under  review  has  been 
one  of  peace,  steady  enlargement,  and  uninterrupted 
prosperity.  No  small  share  of  this  prosperity  has  been 
due  to  the  happy  operation  of  the  boards  and  similar 
agencies  of  the  church.  The  superior  advantages  of 
these,  as  compared  with  voluntaiy,  union  associations, 
for  building  up,  not  only  Presbyterianism,  but  also  the 
kingdom  of  Christ,  few  of  either  school  now  question. 
For  a  time,  after  the  sej^aration,  many  church-members 
and  some  congregations  of  the  Old  School  preferred  to 
make  voluntary  societies  the  channels  of  their  benevo 
lence.  Their  Cliristian  freedom  in  this  matter  was  not 
disputed;    their  preference  was  not  condemned.      A 


192  PRESBYTERIAN    CIIURCK. 

spirit  of  forbearance  and  love  prevented  difficidty,  and 
by  degrees  has  won  nearly  all  to  a  hearty  su])])ort  of 
the  cliurch's  o\\ti  agencies. 

The  question,  how  many  boards  there  should  be,  has 
sometimes  been  agitated.  It  has  been  well-nigh  univer- 
sally agreed,  that  the  work  of  foreign  missions,  that  of 
domestic  missions,  that  of  education,  and  that  of  publi- 
cation, should  l)e  committed  each  to  a  separate  agency ; 
but  many  have  thought  that  the  Boards  of  Domestic 
Missions  and  Education  might,  between  them,  take  the 
whole  work  now  confided  to  that  of  Church  Extension, 
to  the  Coimnittee  on  Freedmen,  and,  in  the  matter  of 
disabled  ministers  and  their  families,  to  the  Trustees  of 
the  General  Assembly.  The  location  of  diffei-ent  boards 
has,  from  time  to  time,  been  Avarmly  discussed ;  but  for 
the  most  ])art  the  veiy  sensible  idea  has  prevailed,  that 
the  northern  and  eastern  portions  of  the  church,  as  able 
to  contriljute  more  largely  by  far  than  tlie  southern 
and  western  portions,  should  not  be  discouraged  fi'om 
devising  liberal  things,  by  having  the  application  of 
their  charities  taken  too  much  out  of  their  oaati  hands. 
The  operations  of  all  the  boards,  at  times,  and  partic- 
ularly, in  several  instances,  those  of  the  Boards  of 
Domestic  IMissions,  Education,  and  Publication,  have 
been  sul^jected  to  searching  inquiry,  with  the  result, 
occasionally,  of  modification  and  improvement,  but  al- 
ways of  demonstrating  the  general  ability  and  fidelity 
with  wliicli  tlieir  affairs  have  been  managed,  and  of  re- 
commending tliem  to  increased  confidence  in  the  churcli. 
Said  a  s})eaker,  several  years  ago,  on  this  point,  "The 
boards  breathe  more  freely  after  the  Asseni])ly  ad- 
journs"—  more  freely,  the  ordeal  passed,  and  the  sub- 


HISTOEICAL    REVIEW    OF   THE    CHCHCH.  193 

jects  of  it  "found  unto  praise  and  honor,"  yet  not  left 
without  a  wholesome  sense  of  responsibility.  Besides, 
uneasy  spirits  must  have  an  outlet.  Fretting  over  the 
imperfections  which  the  best  efforts  of  our  fallen  hu- 
manity, and  our  most  effective  institutions,  cannot  al- 
ways escape,  they  are  ready  at  any  time  for  radical 
transformation  or  revolution,  forgetting  that  incessant 
change  may  itself  be  one  of  the  most  ruinous  of  evils, 
and  that  no  plan  can  even  seem  perfect,  unless  because 
untried.  The  chui'ch,  so  far  as  her  boards  have  been 
concerned,  has  paid  little  regard  to  visionary  perfec 
tionists,  and  has  steadily  maintained  these  agencies,  as 
the  right  hand  of  her  power. 

Among  them  all,  none  has  held  a  warmer  place  in  her 
affections  than  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  Its  re- 
ceipts for  a  year,  as  reported  in  1869,  had  exceeded 
three  hundred  and  thirty-eight  thousand  dollars.  As 
to  the  increase  of  means,  its  prosperity,  for  an  equal 
length  of  time,  has  far  transcended  that  of  the  Ameri- 
can Board,  so  honorably  distinguished  for  its  success. 
And  wherever  the  two  have  labored  in  the  same  field, 
side  by  side,  or  in  fields  that  can  justly  be  compared, 
the  results  prove  the  Presbyterian  Board  to  be,  saying 
the  least,  not  one  whit  behind  the  other  in  the  evidences 
of  God's  blessing.  The  number  of  its  church-members, 
on  foreign  missionary  ground,  has  doubled  in  about 
five  years ;  and  average  pastors  at  home  are  often  com- 
pelled to  mourn  that  they  have  been  less  successful,  in 
our  Christian  land,  than  average  foreign  missionaries  in 
the  dark  places  of  the  earth. 

To  close  this  brief  historical  sketch,  there  remains 
but  to  present  a  simple  outline,  from  an  Old  School 

13 


19-1  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCn. 

point  of  view,  of  the  protracted  negotiations  that  Lave 
resulted  in  the  consolidation  of  the  two  branches  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  And  here,  the  reader's  attention 
will  l^e  directed  to  points  for  the  most  part  outside  of 
the  ground  occupied  by  the  full  account  of  the  reunion, 
from  other  pens,  in  subsequent  chapters.  The  Old 
School  Assembly,  in  1846,  courteously  declined  an  in- 
vitation to  unite  with  that  of  the  New  School  in  cele- 
brating the  Lord's  Supper,  doubtless  mainly  on  the 
ground,  that  though  the  great  lawsuit  before  men- 
tioned had  been  discontinued  some  three  and  a  half 
years,  former  differences  and  conflicts  were  yet  veiy 
fresh  in  thought  and  feeling;  and  each  body  yet  ex- 
pressly claimed  to  be  the  Pi'esbyterian  Chm*ch ;  each, 
too,  regarding  the  other  as  making  herein  a  sinful 
claim.  With  the  language  of  mutual  recrimination 
upon  their  lips,  ought  they  to  sit  down  together  at  the 
Lord's  Table?  In  1850,  the  Assembly  refused  to  take 
any  action  upon  the  subject  of  reunion.  When  the 
rebellion  commenced,  however,  causes  similar  to  those 
which  speedily  brought  the  two  branches  together  at 
the  South,  began  to  operate  powerfully  at  the  North. 
The  common  agitating  excitements,  alarms,  perils,  and 
sufferings  of  a  struggle  for  the  nation's  life,  drew  Old 
and  New  School  men  into  closer  and  more  frequent 
communion,  and  the  rather  because  of  their  near  rela- 
tionship and  family  resemblance.  Yet,  in  1862,  the 
Old  School  Assembly  still  declined  to  talk  of  reunion, 
though  it  unanimously  agreed  to  open  a  correspondence 
by  delegates.  No  doubt  this  correspondence  was  a 
great  advance  toward  organic  unity.  Nothing,  how- 
ever, more   definite   was    accomplished,   although    the 


mSTORICAL    REVIEW    OF   THE    CHURCH.  195 

subject  was  broiiglit  every  year  to  the  notice  of  botli 
Assemblies,  until,  in  1866,  the  first  joint  committee  was 
appointed  to  confer  upon  "  the  desirableness  and  practi- 
cability of  reunion."  The  earliest  plan  proposed  by 
this  committee  was  by  no  means  satisfactoiy  to  the 
Old  School.  Various  objections  were  made  to  it,  but 
the  "doctrinal  basis"  was  the  grand  difficulty.  Be- 
sides, the  major  part  yet  doubted  the  fact  of  that 
reasonable  agreement  in  doctrine,  mthout  which  the 
two  branches  could  not  wisely  unite. 

Now,  there  met  in  Philadelphia,  the  Presbyterian 
National  Union  Convention  of  November,  1867,  and 
gave  a  very  perceptible  impulse  to  the  whole  move- 
ment. The  hope  which  it  excited  of  the  consolidation 
of  five  or  more  Presbyterian  bodies;  the  impression 
that  it  gave  of  a  general  feeling,  soon  to  be  irresistible, 
in  favor  of  reunion;  and  the  warmth  of  enthusiasm 
which  it  kindled,  were  veiy  influential  to  tui-n  op- 
ponents into  friends  of  the  measure.  The  convention 
was  thought  by  many  to  have  pi'oduced  an  improved 
"  doctrinal  basis,"  which  was  therefore  incorporated 
into  the  joint  committee's  plan.  Still,  as  before,  the 
Old  School  Church  was  not  satisfied.  Yet  a  few 
months  later,  upon  a  new  basis,  the  reunion  was 
decreed  by  such  an  overwhelming  vote  of  the  presby- 
teries, that  the  feeble  minority  could  but  bow  in 
liumble  submission  to  the  evident  will  of  the  church. 

To  explain  all  this,  some,  on  both  sides,  have  sup- 
posed a  relaxation  of  doctrinal  strictness  in  the  Old 
School  body,  of  which,  however,  there  has  not  been  the 
slightest  evidence.  What  single  act  of  the  Assembly, 
what  disposition  manifested  by  any  considerable  uum- 


196  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

ber  of  the  presbyteries,  has  indicated  such  a  thing? 
The  veiy  reverse  is  too  apparent  to  be  questioned.  In 
express  words,  the  Assembly  has  reaffirmed  all  its  old 
testimonies  against  error.  And,  on  the  very  ground  of 
apprehended  doctrinal  disagreement,  and  of  dissatisfac- 
tion with  the  doctrinal  basis,  the  church  hesitated,  up 
to  the  last  moment,  to  sanction  the  reunion. 

But  the  plan  of  1869  was  regarded  by  the  presby- 
teries generally  as  presenting  the  safest  basis  possible 
in  point  of  doctrine  —  the  basis  of  "  the  standards  pure 
and  simple."  It  was  the  basis  with  which  those  who 
loved  the  standards  most  were  evidently  the  best 
pleased.  In  fact,  past  negotiations  had  proved  it  to  be 
the  only  basis  offering  the  least  promise  of  safety. 
And,  again,  from  every  quarter  had  come  to  the  Old 
School  body  multiplied  assurances,  in  most  influential 
forms,  that  the  New  School,  not  as  to  every  individual, 
but  as  a  chui'ch,  had  become,  and  were  becoming,  more 
orthodox  than  formerly ;  nay,  were  now  as  strictly  con- 
formed to  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms  as 
the  Old  School  themselves.  Such  assurances  were 
given  in  the  joint  committee  to  its  Old  School  mem- 
bers. The  unimpeachable  orthodoxy  of  the  present 
theological  professors  in  the  New  School  seminaries 
was  avouched  with  the  strongest  confidence.  As  a 
specimen  of  the  declarations  made  on  this  general  sub- 
ject, take  the  follo^ving  from  the  able  pen  of  Dr.  Henry 
B.  Smith,  professor  in  the  Union  Theological  Seminaiy 
of  New  York.  He  says  it  is  notorious,  "  that  the  New 
School  is  thoroughly  organized  as  a  Presbyterian  body, 
having  renounced  the  vain  attempt  to  combine  incon- 
ginious  elements  in  its  system  of  church  order,  and  no 


HISTORICAL    EEVLEW    OF   THE    CHURCH.  197 

longer  favoring  even  the  vestiges  of  the  plan  of  union 
for  any  future  chui'ches ;  that  it  is  not  strenuous  as  to 
the  support  of  voluntary  societies ;  that  it  is  separated 
in  all  chui'ch  action  from  Congregationalism;  that 
many  of  its  more  extreme  men  have  willingly  gone  into 
other  church  connections;  that  certain  objectionable 
forms  of  doctrine  and  of  practice  are  no  more  taught 
in  its  pulpits  and  seminaries ;  that  it,  in  short,  has  be- 
come a  homogeneous  body,  on  the  basis  of  the  stand- 
ards of  the  Presbyterian  Church ;  and  that,  especially 
in  case  of  reunion,  all  these  tendencies  will  be  acceler- 
ated and  carried  to  their  completion." 

Now,  this  declaration  and  a  thousand  others,  to  the 
same  general  effect,  the  Old  School  Chui'ch,  after  long 
doubt,  indeed,  yet  at  length,  confidently  received  and 
believed.  It  consented  to  reunion,  —  in  the  end  gladly 
and  warmly  consented,  —  because  authoritatively  as- 
sured that  the  New  School  Church  was  as  orthodox  as 
the  Old. 


3 


AtrBtTRN  sr-MIN  VR 


T>  ^^R'r    II 


It  is  provided  by  the  "  concuiTent  Declarations  "  tliat 
"  the  official  records  of  the  two  branches  of  the  chm-ch 
for  the  period  of  the  separation  should  be  preserved 
and  held  as  making  up  the  one  history  of  the  church." 
Those  documents  are  now  the  property  of  the  united 
body,  and  will,  no  doubt,  be  made  the  subject  of  care- 
ful investigation  by  its  future  historians.  Th^y  contain 
a  portion  of  Presbyterian  history  of  equal  value  to 
both  the  classes  of  which  the  united  body  is  composed. 
We  are  henceforth  to  have  but  one  interest ;  and  what- 
ever good  has  been  accomplished  by  one  class  Avill  be  a 


HISTORICAL   EEVTEW    OF   THE    CHUECH.  199 

matter  of  satisfaction,  and  whatever  evil  incm-red,  of 
regret,  to  the  otlier.  Both  results  must  be  accepted  and 
acknowledged  as  the  achievements  or  failures  of  Amer- 
ican Presbyterians. 

In  preparing  this  sketch,  the  guiding  principle  must 
be  that  of  truth  impartially  stated.  Yet,  if  separate 
sketches  are  to  be  given,  the  writer  of  either  will  stand 
somewhat  in  the  position  of  an  advocate,  and  must  not 
be  held  as  violating  the  w^holesome  rule,  "  to  study  the 
things  that  make  for  peace,  and  to  guard  against  all 
needless  and  offensive  references  to  the  causes  that  have 
divided  us,"  if,  on  some  critical  points  he  states  the  case 
of  his  clients  from  their  own  point  of  view,  though,  to 
the  other  i^arty,  it  may  have  a  different  aspect.  It  is 
to  be  hojDed,  however,  there  will  be  very  little  even  of 
the  appearance  of  partisanship. 

It  mil  be  readily  granted  by  those  who  have  studied 
the  history,  that  the  New  School  party  in  the  old  Pres- 
byterian church  did  not  desii-e  the  separation.  Their 
feelings  were  against  it ;  their  interest  was  manifestly 
against  it ;  they  had  no  points  to  carry  which,  in  their 
estimation,  were  likely  to  be  subserved  by  it ;  then*  ac- 
tion, uj)  to  the  last  moment,  was  directed  with  a  view 
to  its  prevention.  When  it  took  place,  it  found  them 
totally  unprepared  for  the  exigency.  They  had  no 
plans  concocted  for  separate  action,  no  policy  adapted 
to  the  new  condition  in  which  they  found  themselves. 

If  such  was  the  case  with  the  act  itself,  still  more 
was  it  with  the  maimer  of  doing  it.  The  cutting  off  of 
the  four  synods,  on  the  principles  which  were  held  to 
justify  it,  seemed  to  them  so  arbitrary  and  undiscrimi- 
nating  a  measui'e,  that  they  had  not  supposed  it  would 


200  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

be  contemplated.  Why  not  dissolve  the  Assembly  as 
well,  since  it  contained  the  same  elements  ?  Why  not 
rather  take  measures  to  eject  the  unsound  and  alien 
elements,  carefully  preserving  such  as  were  sound  and 
constitutional?  Why  break  up  these  large  orgamza 
tions,  the  conservators  of  large  and  widely  extended 
interests,  simply  for  having  followed  rules  of  action 
adopted  for  them  by  the  General  Assembly  ?  So  they 
reasoned.  We  say  this,  not  to  vindicate  their  position, 
but  only  to  state  it.  The  other  side  took  a  different  view, 
and  their  arguments  are  on  record.  But  these  were 
theirs,  and  must  be  considered,  if  we  would  understand 
their  action.  They  held  the  act  of  exclusion  to  be  un- 
constitutional, and  felt  bound,  not  only  in  justice  to 
theii*  brethren,  deprived,  as  they  thought,  of  rights 
sacredly  secured  to  them,  but  in  justice  also  to  the 
church  itself,  and  to  their  o^vn  constitutional  pledges, 
to  make  common  cause  with  those  brethi-en,  and  organ- 
ize the  General  Assembly  on  what  they  deemed  the 
only  true  principles.  This  they  did ;  and  by  the  subse- 
quent com-se  of  events,  particularly  by  the  final  decision 
of  the  court  in  Bank,  found  tliemselves,  against  their 
wishes  and  expectations,  a  separate  body. 

It  has  been  a  matter  of  sm'prise  to  many,  that  the 
New  School  party,  immediately  upon  the  disruption, 
should  have  exhibited  so  little  strength  and  so  great 
a  lack  of  decision.  Up  to  that  time  they  had  been  a 
strong,  compact,  and  steadily  advancing  party.  They 
claimed  to  be  the  majority,  and  no  doubt  included  in 
their  ranks  a  large  share  of  the  aggressive  activity  of 
the  church  and  a  large  proportion  of  the  young  men. 
In  numbers,  the  two  parties  were  nearly  balanced,  and 


HISTORICAL   EEVEEW   OF   THE    CHUECH.  201 

every  year  there  was  a  sharp  struggle  for  the  ascend- 
ency in  the  General  Assembly.  But  cluiing  seven  yeai^, 
from  1831  to  1837,  inclusive,  the  New  School  held  the 
majority  in  that  body  five  times,  and  their  rivals  of 
the  Old  School  only  tivice.  It  might  naturally  have 
been  expected,  that  in  case  of  a  division,  the  advantage 
in  respect  to  efficiency,  organic  life,  and  growth  would 
have  been  on  their  side.  Why  the  result  was  otherwise 
will  be  seen  when  we  consider  the  obstacles. 

Unquestionably  the  blow  which  severed  them  from 
the  legally  recognized  Presbyterian  church  was  to  them 
a  stunning  blow.  Its  decisive  character,  partly  because 
of  its  unexpected  occurrence,  they  failed  at  fii'st  to  un- 
derstand; to  use  a  modern  military  phrase,  it  quite 
demoralized  them.  It  loosened  all  the  bonds  of  their 
organic  union.  Their  membership  began  at  once  to  fly 
apart.  Many  who  adhered  to  the  body  lost  their  inter- 
est in  it.  For  many  years  they  scarcely  knew  whom 
they  could  rely  upon  as  permanently  of  their  number. 
It  crippled  their  resources.  It  separated  them  from 
their  strongest  institutions.  It  threw  suspicion,  not 
only  on  the  soundness  of  their  faith,  —  the  alleged  de- 
fects of  which  had  been  assigned  as  one  of  the  chief 
motives  of  the  acts  of  excision,  —  but  the  genuineness 
of  their  denominational  standing.  It  even  raised  the 
question  of  their  right  to  exist  as  an  organized  body. 
Indeed,  scarcely  had  the  disruption  occurred,  when  the 
standard  of  another  denomination  was  openly  raised 
within  their  own  camp,  among  those  who  had  professed 
to  be  of  them ;  and  from  the  highest  watch-tower  of 
the  New  School  citadel,  as  it  then  regarded  itself,  rang 
out  the  cry  of  revolt,  "  To  your  tents,  O  Israel." 


202  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

The  disadvantage  ^vas  increased  by  the  policy  which 
the  other  party,  awakened  to  new  life  and  organic  en- 
ergy by  the  separation,  saw  fit  to  adopt  in  regard  to 
them ;  the  policy  of  "  ahsorjytion^^^  so  called.  In  their 
vde^v,  the  separation  was  final.  Considered  as  an  oi'gan- 
ized  body,  they  did  not  know  the  New  School ;  they  did 
not  suppose  it  could  live.  But  its  elements,  of  which 
a  large  part  were  still  held  in  esteem  by  them,  they 
desired  to  recover.  Hence,  immediately  on  the  with- 
drawal of  the  New  School,  they  adopted  a  resolution 
which  operated,  duiing  the  whole  period  which  fol- 
lowed, as  a  standing  in\dtation  to  churches,  ministers, 
presbyteries,  and  minorities  of  j)resbyteries,  to  disconnect 
themselves  from  the  New  School  and  become  united 
with  the  Old  School  Assembly.  Taken  from  theii*  own 
point  of  view,  this  was  an  affectionate  invitation  to  all 
sound  Presbyterians,  unhappily  separated  from  the 
true  Presbyterian  fold,  to  return,  with  an  assm-ance  of 
welcome.  Taken  from  that  of  the  New  School,  it  was 
an  in\dtation  and  encouragement  to  unfaithfulness,  dis- 
tm-bing  and  disintegrating  their  ranks,  and  so  a  soui-ce 
of  irritation  and  distrust. 

In  the  light  of  recent  events  over  which  we  all  re- 
joice and  thank  God,  it  will  be  held  as  an  honor  to  the 
Christian  spirit  of  the  New  School,  though  it  delayed 
the  consolidation  of  the  body  and  the  settlement  of 
their  denominational  plans,  that,  for  several  years, 
amidst  those  troubled  scenes,  they  did  not  give  up  the 
hope  or  effort  to  bring  al)out  a  reunion  of  the  church. 
In  a  convention  held  just  Ijefore  the  disruption,  they  re- 
solved, and  sent  the  resolution  to  a  convention  of  their 
brethren,  "that  we  are  ready  to  co-operate  in  any  ef- 


mSTOKICAL    REVIEW    OF   THE   CHURCH.  203 

forts  for  j^aciiication  tliat  are  constitutional,  and  which 
shall  recognize  the  regnlar  standing  and  secm-e  the 
rights  of  the  entire  church."  The  day  after  the  separ- 
ation took  place,  their  General  Assembly  resolved  as  fol- 
lows :  "  That  this  body  is  willing  to  agree  to  any  rea- 
sonable measures  for  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  dif- 
ficulties existing  in  the  Pi'esbyterian  Church ;  and  will 
receive  and  respectfully  consider  any  propositions  that 
may  be  made  for  that  purpose."  In  1839,  they  pro- 
posed a  "  plan  of  peaceable  division,"  "  designed  only," 
as  they  say,  "to  secure  our  constitutional  privileges  as 
Presbyterians,"  while  it  relinquished  to  the  other  body 
"  all  the  chartered  rights,  institutions,  and  funds  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church."  It  was  not  till  the  year  1840, 
as  the  Assembly  say,  that  they  relinquished  the  idea 
of  reunion,  and,  "  coming  reluctantly  to  the  conclusion 
that  union  was  impracticable,  corrected  their  roll,  and 
di-opped  from  it  the  names  of  those  brethren  in  defer- 
ence to  their  feelings."  One  more  proposition,  though 
only  for  a  mutual  recognition  of  each  other  as  bodies 
of  Christian  brethren,  by  communing  together  at  the 
Lord's  table,  was  made  during  the  session  of  the  two 
Assemblies,  in  the  same  city  of  Philadelphia,  in  1846. 
None  of  these  proposals  were  successful.  No  doubt 
they  were  all  made,  as  the  Assembly  declare,  "  in  good 
faith,  and  with  the  earnest  desire  and  hope  that  they 
might  be  met  in  the  spirit  that  2:»rompted  them."  No 
doubt  the  one  last  named  raised,  in  the  Old  School  As- 
sembly, an  embarrassing  question.  Most  of  them  would 
gladly  have  accepted  the  invitation,  had  they  regarded 
it  as  expedient  to  do  so.  And  they  rejected  it,  although 
decisively,  yet  kindly.     The  result  served  to  convince 


204  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

the  New  School,  of  what  perhaps  it  would  have  been 
better  for  them  to  have  understood  earlier,  that,  however 
desii-able  union  might  be  on  general  grounds,  the  time 
had  not  come  for  them  to  be  pressing  proposals  to  that 
effect  on  the  consideration  of  their  brethren ;  and  that 
the  best  thing  they  could  do  in  existing  circumstances, 
was  to  go  about  their  separate  work,  and  build  up  as 
best  they  might,  their  own  particular  section  of  the  for- 
tifications of  Zion. 

This  independent  action,  necessary  to  their  growth 
and  vigor  as  a  denomination,  was  still  fui'ther  checked, 
and  that  growth  and  vigor  hindered,  by  the  very  unsec- 
tarian  —  we  might  say  undenominational — spirit  that 
pervaded  the  body.  Many  of  them  were  New  Eng- 
land men,  born  and  educated  in  another  denomination ; 
and  though,  by  conviction,  they  had  heartily  adopted 
the  Presbyterian  system,  they  did  not  regard  their  o^\ti 
section  of  the  church  as  the  only  true  church,  and 
shrunk  sensitively  fi'om  even  the  appearance  of  prose- 
lytism.  This  was  manifest  to  a  considerable  degree  in 
their  relations  to  the  Old  School,  bitterly  as  they  re- 
membered the  acts  of  excision;  and  still  more  as  res- 
pected the  Congregationalists,  among  whom  were  the 
near  relatives  and  fellow-students  of  many  of  them,  for 
the  sake  of  ^vhose  fellowship  and  co-operation  they  had 
incuri'ed  in  their  own  denomination  the  evils  of  suspic- 
ion and  disruption.  Some  may  ask  here.  Why,  Avith 
these  views,  did  they  insist  on  keeping  up  their  distinct 
organization  ?  Why  not  rather  abandon  it,  and  allow 
its  elements  to  fall  off,  on  the  one  side  and  the  other,  to 
their  natural  afiinities, —  the  strong  Presbyterians  to  the 
Old  School,  and  those  who  had  little  objections  to  Con- 


HISTORICAL    REVIEW    OF    THE    CHURCH.  205 

gregationalism,  to  tlie  Congregationalists.  But  tlie  re- 
ply is  obvious.  Here  was  a  large  body  of  churches, 
say  fifteen  hundred,  more  or  less,  that  were  neither  of 
the  one  extreme  nor  of  the  other.  They  were  Presby- 
terians, and  they  were  not  Presbyterians  on  the  basis  of 
1837  and  1838.  These  chui-ches  were  to  be  cared  for; 
the  great  religious  interests  involved  in  them  were  to 
])e  preserved.  Their  resources  and  working  powers 
were  to  be  called  forth  and  made  available.  None  but 
a  New  School  Presbyterian  church,  at  that  juncture, 
could  have  performed  this  service.  And  to  perform  it, 
that  church  must  not  only  maintain  its  existence,  and 
resist  disintegration,  but  increase,  by  all  fair  and  Chris- 
tian means,  its  organic  strength  and  efiiciency.  A  sec- 
tarian spirit  is,  no  doubt,  to  be  reprobated.  Denomin- 
ationalism  may  not  be,  on  the  whole,  the  best  principle 
for  the  distribution  of  the  church.  But  while  denom- 
inations exist,  each  is  made  responsible  for  its  o^vn. 
And  a  certain  degree  of  the  denominational  esprit  du 
C07'ps  is  therefore  indispensable  to  the  common  inter- 
est. The  Congregationalists,  looking  to  the  interests 
of  Evangelical  Protestantism  in  our  land,  and  of  the 
Redeemer's  Kingdom,  have  occasion  to  rejoice;  and 
the  Old  School,  looking  to  the  fair  proportions,  happy 
fellowship,  and  augmented  strength  of  the  reunited 
Presbyterian  Church  does  rejoice  to-day,  that  the  New 
School  body,  at  that  critical  period  of  its  history,  did 
not  wholly  forget  its  divine  mission  as  a  distinct  body 
of  Evangelical  Christians.  Had  it  sooner  and  more 
vigorously  roused  itself  to  this  duty,  it  would,  no 
doubt,  have  done  more  for  the  common  advancement. 
One  more  hinderance  in  its  way,  may  be  found  in 


206  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

the  peculiar  condition  and  stage  of  growth  at  which 
th€,  disruption  found  a  large  part  of  its  churches. 
Most  of  them  had  been  missionary  churches  and  were 
recently  established;  many  of  them  were  still  benefic- 
iaries of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society. 
They  were,  it  is  true,  a  noble  band  of  true-hearted, 
zealous-minded  Christian  people,  deeply  imbued  with 
the  spirit  of  the  great  revivals  which  had  just  before 
rejoiced  the  country  and  astonished  the  Christian  world, 
and  full  of  evangelical  fervor.  But  they  lacked  re- 
sources. Most  of  the  old  wealthy  churches  went  with 
the  other  di^dsion.  So  did  all  the  old  and  well-endowed 
institutions.  Those  which  remained  were  in  their  in- 
fancy, weak,  unendowed,  and  struggling  for  existence. 
Lane  Seminary  received  its  first  student  in  1829. 
Union,  in  New  York,  was  organized  in  1836.  Auburn 
was  a  few  years  older,  but  was  not  strong.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  the  colleges.  Most  of  the  ministers 
were  young  men,  not  much  versed  in  matters  of  ecclesi- 
astical policy.  A  few,  such  as  Dr.  Eichards  of  Auburn, 
were  men  of  ripe  experience  and  comprehensive  and 
far-seeing  judgment.  But  the  number  of  such  men  was 
not  large,  and  most  of  theii*  contemporaries  were  in  the 
other  body.  The  mass  of  those  that  remained  were 
rather  men  of  zeal  and  ability,  than  experience  and  rep- 
utation. Their  best  power  and  weightiest  mfluence  was 
in  the  futiu*e. 

In  such  circumstances,  it  is  not  strange  that  some 
mistakes  should  have  been  made  increasins^  the  embar- 
rassment.  One  of  these,  the  impolicy  of  which  the 
church  afterwards  saw  and  I'etiieved,  was  the  alteration 
of  the  constitutional  i-ules.     The  Confession  of  F.utii 


HISTOEICAIi    EEVTEW    OF   THE   CHUKCH.  207 

was  never  altered,  even  in  a  penstroke ;  but  the  FoE:\r 
of  Government  was,  in  a  few  particulars.  Partly 
owing  to  a  weariness  with  past  struggles,  the  General 
Assembly  had  come  to  be  regarded  with  less  favor,  and 
its  importance  to  the  Presbyterian  system  less  highly 
estimated  than  formerly.  The  impression  had  begun 
to  gain  ground  before  the  division,  and  had  the  sanc- 
tion of  some  eminent  names  in  both  parties,  that  if 
appeals  could  be  stopped  with  synods,  annual  Assem- 
blies might  well  be  dispensed  with.  Accordingly,  in 
the  year  1839,  the  next  year  after  the  separation,  over- 
tures were  sent  down  to  the  presbyteries,  which,  being 
approved,  took  effect  in  the  year  1840,  altering  the 
basis  of  representation,  making  the  synods  courts  of 
ultimate  appeal,  and  providing  for  triennial  instead  of 
annual  Assemblies.  A  committee  ad  interim,  was  also 
erected,  invested  with  large  but  not  well-defined  powers. 
The  effect  especially  at  so  critical  a  period,  may  be 
easily  supposed.  It  left  the  body  with  at  best  a  very 
weak  and  inadequate  bond  of  union,  and  at  a  time  when 
the  most  constant  vigilance,  concert,  and  co-operation 
were  essential  to  safety,  with  no  provision,  duiing  re- 
peated intervals  of  three  years,  for  the  slightest  common 
consultation  upon  its  interests  and  dangers.  That  the 
church  did  not  make  complete  shipwreck  during  the 
nine  years  of  the  continuance  of  this  policy,  is  indeed 
far  more  to  be  wondered  at,  than  that  it  should  be 
found  to  have  lacked  much  in  organic  strength  and 
successful  progress. 

But  while,  from  these  and  other  causes  hereafter  to 
be  noticed,  the  progress  and  efficiency  of  the  body, 
during  the  first  half  of  its  existence,  was  not  as  great 


208  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

as  might  otber^vise  liave  been  expected,  justice  to  its 
history  requires  us  to  add  that,  dm-ing  all  that  j^jeriod 
of  discouragement,  an  important  work  was  going  on,  in 
it  and  by  it,  both  for  immediate  results  and  in  prepara- 
tion for  the  future.  The  "  co-operative  "  or  undenomi- 
national method  to  which  the  New  School  strongly 
adhered  in  their  work  of  evangelization,  so  merged 
their  contributions  mth  those  of  a  sister  denomination, 
that  it  is  not  easy  to  determine,  except  approximately, 
what  portion  of  the  common  results  was  due  to  theii' 
agency.  But  there  is  reason  to  believe  it  was  in  full 
proportion,  both  in  men  and  money,  to  their  compara- 
tive ability.  With  generous  aid  afforded  them  fi'om 
New  England,  they  sustained  and  strengthened  theii' 
numerous  feeble  and  infant  chui-ches,  and  made  provi- 
sions for  the  support  and  endowment  of  theii*  theologi- 
cal and  literary  institutions.  Some  of  these  suffered 
severely  from  the  financial  embarrassments  which  Avell- 
nigh  overwhelmed  the  country  just  at  the  occurrence 
of  the  separation,  and  it  was  only  with  the  greatest 
difficulty,  and  at  the  cost  of  great  self-denials  and  ex- 
ertions on  the  2:)art  of  their  guardians  and  Faculties, 
that  they  were  kept  alive,  to  be  the  blessings  which 
they  now  are  to  the  chm-ch.  The  records  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  give  tokens  likcT^dse  of  a  high  degree  of 
devotion  to  the  work  of  the  gospel,  in  the  frequent, 
very  extensive,  and  deeply  moving  revivals  of  religion, 
^vhich  obtain  notice  in  its  Pastoral  letters  and  official 
"  Narratives  of  the  state  of  Reliorion."  Lari^e  numbers 
were,  from  year  to  year,  added  to  the  church ;  bold  and 
judicious  testimony  was  uttered  for  the  sanctity  of  the 
Sabbath,  the  pm'ity  and  integrity  of  the  Christian  doc- 


inSTOEICAL    KEVTEW    OF   THE   CHUECH.  209 

trines,  tlie  promotion  of  temperance,  and  against  the 
worldly  spirit  threatening  in  various  ways  to  corrupt 
the  piety  of  the  chui*ch.  In  that  most  critical  and 
formative  period  in  the  history  of  our  Western  country, 
there  went  forth  steadily,  it  is  believed,  from  this  de- 
voted l^and  of  hard-working,  self-denying  ministers  and 
churches,  an  influence  of  vast  though  silent  efficacy,  to 
make  that  great  and  now  powerful  section  of  oui*  coun- 
try what  it  is,  —  eminently  Christian.  Meanwhile,  a 
process  was  going  on  within  the  body  itself,  whose  bene- 
ficial results  some,  no  doubt,  were  then  unable  to  foresee. 
That  process  of  depletion  which  began,  as  we  have  seen, 
at  the  beginning  of  its  troubles,  —  the  dropping  off,  on 
this  side  and  on  that,  of  men  and  churches,  that  had 
been  considered  in  some  cases  leaders  of  the  body,  and 
that  certainly  did  contribute  to  swell  its  numbers  and 
apparent  strength,— was  gradually  disentangling  it  from 
hui'tful  complications,  removing  the  embarrassment  and 
peril  of  alien  counsels,  and  promoting  unity  and  homo- 
geneousness  among  its  members.  Some  of  those  trusted 
leaders,  who,  in  the  days  of  adversity,  went  away,  and 
walked  no  more  with  them,  were  among  the  rowei's 
who  rowed  them  into  the  deep  waters,  and  whose  un- 
mse  measm'es,  or  vulnerable  expressions,  had  made 
their  ^'iews  and  actions  to  be  misinterpreted  by  those 
who  were  really  of  the  same  principles.  At  the  same 
time,  questions  vital  to  their  future  peace  and  prosper- 
ity were  getting  discussed  and  settled.  Such  was  the 
question  of  slavery,  to  the  discussion  of  which  they 
gave  the  utmost  latitude,  as  mil  be  shown  hereafter, 
and  with  respect  to  which  they  reached  conclusions 
v/hich,  dm-ing  all  the  fierce  struggles  Avliich  afterwards 

14 


210  PRESBYTEIIIAN    CHURCH. 

agitated  tlie  country,  tliey  saw  no  reason  to  alter. 
Niglit  seems  to  most  men,  especially  if  it  be  overcast 
with  clouds,  a  season  of  gloom ;  but  it  adds  mightily, 
with  its  refreshing  moisture  and  its  sparkling  dew- 
drops,  to  the  beauty  and  freshness  of  the  morning. 
Winter  seems  a  cheerless  and  barren  interval;  l)ut 
spring  owes  not  a  little  of  its  bursting  life,  and  sum- 
mer and  autumn  of  their  growth  and  wealth  of  prod- 
ucts, to  its  silent  processes.  So,  often,  does  the  church 
of  God  look  back  with  gratitude  to  her  seasons  of 
discouragement,  as  she  looks  forward,  and  takes  up  the 
words  of  hope,  — 

"  The  winter  season  has  been  sharp, 
But  spring  shall  all  its  wastes  repair." 

It  has  been  necessary  to  dwell  thus  long  upon  this 
period  of  depression,  that  we  might  the  better  under- 
stand that  of  the  ne^v  life  and  activity  which  followed. 
The  stirrings  of  this  new  life  began  to  discover  them- 
selves during  the  meeting  of  the  ti'iennial  Assembly  in 
1S46.  Most  of  the  time  in  that  meeting,  to  the  great 
disparagement  of  the  Assembly  in  the  eyes  of  some, 
was  occupied  with  the  discussion  of  slavery.  In  con- 
sequence of  this,  as  appears  fi'om  the  minutes,  "  busi- 
ness of  vast  importance  to  the  prosperity  of  om*  church, 
especially  at  the  West,  was  left  unfinished  and  unat- 
tempted ;  business  which,  in  the  opinion  of  many  enti- 
tled to  belief,  must  be  done  soon,  or  it  would  be  wholly 
beyond  our  power  ever  to  do  it."  In  this  view,  the  evil 
of  triennial,  instead  of  annual  Assemblies,  began  to 
be  apparent  to  many.  "  It  was  not  sm'prising,"  they 
said,  "that  during  the  long  inteiwal,  the  churches  at 
the  West,  in  all  stages  of  existence,  among  a  heterogen- 


inSTOEICAL   EEVTEW   OF   THE    CHUECH.  211 

eous  and  rapidly  increasing  population,  should  feel  the 
want  of  tlie  presence  and  wisdom  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, both  to  attract  around  a  common  centre  these 
diverse  elements,  and  to  devise  plans  for  the  extension 
and  consolidation  of  our  branch  of  the  church.  That 
the  exigency  might  not  fail  to  be  met,  an  adjourned 
meeting  of  the  Assembly  was  agreed  upon,  to  be  held 
in  the  spring  of  the  next  year ;  and  as  the  measure  was 
then  without  j)recedent,  and  some  doubted  its  legality, 
the  opinion  of  Chancellor  Kent  was  procured,  who  gave 
it  the  sanction  of  his  weighty  authority. 

In  the  spring  of  18-17,  the  Assembly  came  togethei 
in  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  full  of  the  spirit  of  their  im- 
portant mission.  A  memorial  was  presented  from 
Rev.  Thornton  A.  Mills,  not  a  member  of  the  Assem- 
bly, which,  though  not  to  be  found  upon  the  minutes, 
deserves  to  be  carefully  preserved,  both  as  a  memorial 
of  the  man,  and  an  important  monument  of  progress  in 
the  history  of  the  church.  The  023ening  paragraph  is 
characteristic :  "  That,  being  a  native  of  the  great  West, 
and  exj^ecting  to  live  and  die  in  the  service  of  Christ, 
endeavoring  to  spread  the  influence  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  throughout  its  wide  limits,  he  feels  peculiar 
pleasure  in  welcoming  the  Assembly,  at  this,  its  first 
session  in  the  great  city  of  the  West,  and  in  learning 
that  one  object  of  the  adjournment,  was  to  consider  the 
condition  of  our  western  churches,  and  devise  means  for 
their  enlargement.  Having  been  all  his  life  an  observer 
of  the  state  of  things,  and  having  for  several  years  j^ast 
possessed  peculiar  advantages  of  acquiring  knowledge 
from  his  connection  with  the  Home  Missionary  Society 
through  a  large  portion  of  this  region,  he  trusts  it  will 


212  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

not  be  deemed  presumptuous  if,  in  tlie  form  of  a  mem- 
orial, he  ventures  to  offer  a  few  suggestions  as  to  the 
best  means  of  extending  the  influence  of  the  kingdom 
of  Christ,  as  it  is  connected  mth  our  church."  In  this 
memorial,  four  points  are  very  clearly  presented  and 
forcibly  urged.  1.  The  great  want  of  places  of  public 
worship.  "The  power  of  Presbyterianism"  lies  "in 
the  continuity  of  its  efforts;  and  this  cannot  be  se- 
cured  without    permanent    church    accommodations." 

2.  The  expediency  of  a  temporary  system  of  itineracy 
under  the  direction  of  presbyteries  and  synods.  Pres 
byterianism  cannot  be  made  aggressive  without  this. 

3.  The  need  of  some  new  measures  to  supply  suitable 
ministers,  "men  apt  to  teach,  who  will  persevere  in 
laying  the  foundations  of  many  genei'ations."  4.  The 
need  of  some  special  provision  for  the  wants  of  our 
foreign  population,  especially  the  Germans. 

This  memorial,  carefully  considered  in  a  committee, 
and  freely  discussed  in  interlocutory  meetings  of  the 
Assembly,  I'esulted  in  the  adoption  of  a  plan  Avhich  re- 
quired only  to  be  matured  and  carried  out,  to  place  the 
cliurch  on  a  new  platform  in  respect  to  its  prosperit)^ 
and  usefulness.  "  Every  pastor,  session,  and  chui'ch," 
were  exhorted  to  "  regard  themselves  as  a  missionary 
hody^  established  in  the  midst  of  the  most  important 
missionary  field  in  the  world,  and  the  object  of  their 
vocation  to  lead  all  around  them  to  Christ."  To  this 
end,  the  congregations  were  to  be  "thoroughly  in- 
structed," "thoroughly  grounded  in  the  doctrines  of 
<//'«6'(?,"  and  particularly  "  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible 
as  contained  in  the  standards  of  our  church.''^  All  the 
points  contained  in  the   memorial  were  m-ged  as   of 


HISTOEICAL    RE\Ti:W    OF   THE   CHURCH.  213 

great  importance,  and  it  was  recommended  "  to  all  our 
presbyteries  carefully  to  sui'vey  their  whole  territory, 
and  apply  to  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  for  one  or 
more  missionaries  who  shall  be  employed  in  itinerating 
among  the  destitute." 

This  short  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  in 
1847,  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  important  in  the 
annals  of  the  New  School  Church,  not  so  much  for 
what  it  accomplished,  as  what  it  put  in  process  of  ac- 
complishment, as  indicative  of  the  new  spirit  which  was 
beginning  to  arise  in  the  body  and  prophetic  of  its  fu- 
tui^e  advancement.  In  its  action  are  to  be  found  the 
germs  of  the  whole  subsequent  policy.  Nor  did  the 
Assembly  dissolve  itself  till  it  had  taken  measures  to 
reinvigorate  the  impaired  system  by  a  return  to  the  old 
rule  of  annual  Assemblies,  and  the  restoration  of  tJie 
constitution  to  its  original  state ;  of  which  the  former 
was  effected  in  1849,  and  the  latter  One  year  later.  On 
this  last  point,  an  able  report,  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Hatfield 
and  containing  the  history  of  this  whole  subject,  in  the 
light  of  which  the  Assembly  and  the  Presbyteries 
finally  acted,  is  to  be  found  in  the  appendix  to  the  min- 
utes for  1849. 

Various  causes  contributed  to  retard,  for  several 
years,  the  full  execution  or  completion  of  the  plan. 
But  it  was  not  droj^ped  or  overlooked.  The  question 
was  freely  discussed,  information  sought,  committees 
raised  to  consider  it  dming  the  intervals  of  the  As- 
semblies, and,  from  year  to  year,  progress  was  made. 
In  1851,  Dr.  Mills  preached,  by  previous  appointment, 
an  able  and  stirring  sermon  on  Home  Missions,  from 
Isaiah  liv.  2,  3  :    "  Enlarge  the  place  of  thy  tent,"  Slc, 


214  PRESBYTEHIAN    CnUKCH. 

and  tlie  whole  subject,  having  been  again  fully  dis- 
cussed, was  referred  to  a  special  committee  of  nine, 
amonc:  whom  "were  some  of  the  ablest  ministers  of  the 
church,  and  of  which  Dr.  Mills  was  the  chaii'man,  ^\ith 
directions  to  report  to  the  next  General  Assembly. 

Such  was  the  posture  of  aiffairs  when  the  Assembly 
met  at  Washington,  in  1852.  It  was  an  earnest,  reso- 
lute, hard-working  Assembly.  The  chm-ch  was  repre- 
sented by  some  of  its  ablest  men.  They  came  together 
fi'om  all  parts  of  the  field.  North  and  South,  and  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  not  to  see  the  sights  of 
Washington,  in  which  recreation  they  indulged  but 
sparingly,  but  to  devise  and  fijs  upon  measm-es  to  make 
their  beloved  chm-ch  what  they  all  felt  she  ought  to  be, 
—  a  power  in  the  land.  An  excm'sion  to  Mount  Ver- 
non, and  a  visit  in  a  body  to  the  Presidential  mansion, 
Avhere,  being  introduced  in  a  felicitous  speech,  by  their 
Moderator,  Dr.  Wm.  Adams,  they  -^vere  received  mth 
great  com'tesy  by  President  Filmore,  who  complimented 
them  in  his  happiest  manner,  as  an  "Ecclesiastical 
Congress  of  the  United  States,"  occupied  the  hours  of 
Saturday,  and  gave  opportunity  for  fi'ee  conference  on 
the  work  before  them;  and  their  unfeigned  love  of 
country,  and  devotion  to  its  interests,  ahvays  chai-acter- 
istic  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  all  its  history,  found 
expression  in  the  presentation  of  a  block  of  marble,  to 
be  inserted  in  the  monument  to  the  memory  of  Wash- 
ington, bearing  that  most  fitting  emblem,  an  open  Bi- 
ble, with  tlie  inscription:  The  General  Asse:mbly  of 

THE  PllESBYTElHAN  ChURCH   IK   THE    U^STIED  STxITES    OF 

America,  in  sessioj^  in  Washington  City,  May,  1852. 
These  were  pleasant  incidents,  occupying  little  time 


mSTOEICAL   EEVIEW    OF   THE    CHURCH.  215 

and  serving,  as  did  the  very  genius  of  tlie  place,  to 
stimulate  theii^  zeal,  and  give  them  enlarged  concep- 
tions of  the  sublime  mission  of  the  church  in  this  great 
and  growing  country,  at  once  to  "walk  through  the 
land  in  the  length  of  it  and  the  breadth  of  it,"  and 
take  possession  of  it  in  the  name  of  the  Master. 

It  was  w^ell  understood  fi'om  before  the  appointment 
of  the  commissioners,  that  the  grand  subject  of  interest 
in  this  Assembly  w^ould  be  the  report  of  the  special 
committee  and  the  work  of  Chuech  Extension",  which 
that  committee  had  in  charge.  Dr.  Mills  and  his  asso- 
ciates had  prepared  a  detailed  plan  for  carrying  into 
effect  the  long-cherished  pm-pose  of  the  church.  It 
consisted  of  three  j)rincipal  sections,  which  were  taken 
up  and  discussed  seriatim  /  viz.,  that  on  Education  for 
the  Ministry,  on  Home  Missions,  and  on  Doctrinal 
Tracts.  The  stress  of  the  discussion  came  upon  the 
first,  chiefly  perhaps  because  it  was  taken  up  first ;  for 
they  all  involved  substantially  the  same  principles,  and 
the  adoption  of  either  was  felt  to  be  a  virtual  commit- 
tal of  the  Assembly  to  the  whole  policy.  The  discus- 
sion was  able,  earnest,  and  protracted.  Two  parties  dis- 
covered themselves,  one,  —  of  those  particularly  jealous 
of  what  might  in  any  degree  impair  or  imperil  the 
system  of  voluntary  societies,  to  which  the  chm'ch  had 
been  committed  from  the  beginning ;  the  other  making 
no  objection  to  that  system,  but  resolute  to  secm-e,  at 
whatever  cost  in  that  du-ection,  a  more  efficient  method 
of  Church  Extension  and  Home  Evangelization.  Elab- 
orate arguments  were  presented  on  the  one  side  by  Dr. 
Asa  D.  Smith,  then  a  member  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society,  and 


216  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Dr.  Beman,  tliat  prince  of  debaters,  who  had  always 
been  an  earnest  champion  of  the  voluntaiy  or  non- 
ecclesiastical  system.  These  were  answered  by  argu- 
ments, if  not  as  elaborate,  yet  quite  as  effective,  at 
least  'v^dth  those  predisposed  to  that  side  of  the  ques- 
tion. In  particular,  the  commissioners  from  the  West 
were  drawn  out  and  encouraged  to  tell  fi'eely  the  story 
of  their  embarrassments  under  existing  methods ;  which 
they  did,  using  theii*  rifles  as  practised  marksmen,  in 
pithy  speeches  or  j^lain  statements  of  facts.  The  de- 
bate, although  eager,  was  eminently  courteous  and  fra- 
ternal, and  resulted  in  the  very  general  conviction  that 
sometliing  must  be  done^  and  that  quickly,  if  we  would 
perform  our  proper  part  in  carrying  forward  the  Lord's 
work,  or  save  ourselves  from  being  absorbed  on  the  one 
hand,  or  losing  our  very  name  as  Presbyterian  Chris- 
tians on  the  other. 

At  the  end  of  thi-ee  days  the  discussion  was  arrested, 
and  the  whole  subject  referred  to  a  special  committee. 
It  may  be  of  interest  to  recall  the  names  of  those  who 
at  this  important  juncture  were  entrusted  with  the  re- 
sponsibility of  harmonizing  the  opinions  of  their  l^reth- 
ren  and  recommending  the  new  plan  of  operations. 
They  stand  on  record  as  follows :  "  Eev.  Messrs.  Stephen 
Taylor,  D.D.,  Nathan  S.  S.  Beman,  D.D.,  Philemon  H. 
Fowler,  Asa  D.  Smith,  D.D.,  George  A.  Lyon,  D.D., 
Samuel  W.  Fisher,  and  Robert  W.  Patterson ;  with  the 
Hon.  Messrs.  William  Darling,  William  Jessup,  LL.D., 
and  John  Mason,  and  Messrs  John  Ogden  and  Horace 
Maynard."  Their  report  Avas  on  the  first  section  only, 
-  -  that  on  Education  for  the  ministry ;  and  the  two 
others  having  received  several  amendments  in  the  body 


mSTOPvICAL    REVIEW    OF   TITE    CHURCH.  217 

itself,  the  whole  plan  was  adopted  by  the  General  As- 
sembly ^vith  great  nnanimity. 

The  leading  feature  of  the  plan,  in  the  intention  of 
the  Assembly,  was  the  combination  of  the  voluntaiy  or 
co-operative  system,  with  the  effective  and  responsible 
supervision  by  the  chm'ch  judicatories  of  the  work  of 
the  church. 

In  the  department  of  doctrinal  tracts,  there  was  no 
difficulty,  because  the  field  was  unoccupied.  A  commit- 
tee of  nine  were  apjiointed,  whose  duty  it  should  be  "  to 
superintend  the  publication  of  a  series  of  tracts  explan- 
atory of  the  doctrines,  government,  and  missionary  pol- 
icy of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  the  Assembly  should 
fi'om  time  to  time  direct." 

In  the  department  of  education,  existing  education 
societies,  with  which  the  ^presbyteries  or  churches  might 
co-operate,  were  left  undisturbed,  but  were  requested  to 
adopt  such  a  plan  of  operation  and  correspondence  as 
would  make  the  parties  concerned  mutual  helps  /  and, 
for  the  West,  as  there  was  no  such  society  there,  it  was 
recommended  that  one  should  be  formed,  to  be  called 
the  Western  Education  Society,  which  should  arrange 
its  annual  meetings  to  be  at  the  same  time  and  2)lace  as 
those  of  the  Assembly,  and  permit  the  members  of  the 
Assembly,  ex  officio^  to  act  as  members  of  the  society. 
These  societies  were  requested  to  furnish  annual  reports 
to  the  Assembly,  "  as  far  as  theii'  operations "  should 
"  relate  to  om*  church ; "  and  the  Presbyteries  were  to 
appoint  standing  committees  to  take  charge  of  the 
funds  collected  in  their  chm-ches,  exercise  supervision 
over  theii"  young  men,  and  press  the  subject  in  all  its 


218  PRESBYTEEIAN    CHURCH. 

bearings  on  the  attention  and  action  of  their  congrega- 
tions. 

In  the  department  of  Home  Missions,  "the  American 
Home  Missionary  Society,"  say  the  Assembly  "is  here- 
by recommended  as  the  agency  through  which,  as  here- 
tofore, the  work  of  Domestic  Missions  shall  be  done." 
Each  presbytery  was  to  have  a  standing  committee  on 
chm'ch  extension,  "  to  see  that,  by  its  own  ministers  or 
otherwise,  the  claims  of  Home  Missions  should  be  urged 
upon  the  churches,  and  funds  raised  and  paid  into  the 
treasmy  of  the  society  with  as  little  expense  to  it  as  pos- 
sible ;  to  recommend  all  applications  for  aid,  and  keep 
the  amounts  asked  for  as  low  as  would  answer  the  pur- 
pose." In  order  to  avoid  conflicting  and  irresponsible 
action,  while  the  Assembly  would  not  abridge  the  right 
of  the  society  "  to  obtain  all  needed  information  in  re- 
gard to  applications  "  for  aid,  or  "  exercise  its  full  dis- 
cretion as  to  gi'anting  them  in  whole  or  in  pai't,"  the 
society  was.  requested  so  to  arrange  its  system  that  the 
applications  of  the  presbijteries  for  their  churches 
should  not  depend,  as  had  recently  been  growing  to  be 
the  custom,  on  the  "  official  sanction  "  of  the  ei gents  of 
the  society.  The  synods  also  were  to  have  each  a 
church  extension  committee,  and  on  them  was  devolved 
the  duty  of  forming  a  plan,  and  devising  means  to  aid 
feeble  chm-ches,  either  by  loan  or  gift,  in  erecting 
houses  of  worship ;  for  which  object  they  should  requii'e 
of  the  chui'ches  to  make  each  a  yearly  collection.  The 
Assembly  also  was  to  have  its  standing  committee,  and 
the  whole  work  was  to  come  uj)  annually,  by  reports, 
for  its  supervision. 

The  most  important  provision  of  the  plan  in  this  de- 


mSTOKICAL    EEVLEW    OF   THE    CHURCH.  219 

partmeiit,  as  the  case  then  stood,  was  the  sixth  item, 
viz. :  "  Each  presbytery  whose  circumstances  as  to 
churches  and  members  demand  it,  is  recommended  to 
appoint  an  itinerant  missionary  withiji  its  bounds  for 
each  synod,  where  it  is  best  that  two  or  more,  or  all  of 
its  j^resbyteries  shall  be  united  in  this  work,  is  recom- 
mended to  appoint  such  a  missionary,  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  act  as  a  travellino:  evans-elist  after  the 
scriptural  pattern,  to  explore  destitute  fields,  to  prepare 
the  way  for  the  formation  of  new  churches  by  the  j^res- 
byteries,  to  seek  for  ministers  to  take  charge  of  them, 
to  assist  and  du^ect  in  building  houses  of  worship  in 
destitute  places,  and,  in  all  other  suitable  ways,  under 
the  direction  of  presbyterial  or  synodical  committees, 
promote  the  woik  of  church  extension."  The  object  of 
the  provision  is  not  doubtful.  The  Assembly  had  at 
leno-th  awoke  to  its  oblio-ation,  too  much  overlooked  in 
times  past,  to  superintend  the  developement,  in  all 
legitimate  ways,  of  its  own  hranoh  of  the  cliurch^  and 
was  determined  to  do  it,  not  without  regard  to  the 
claims  of  others,  but  with  a  vigilant  and  self-reliant 
energy.  That  there  might  be  no  misunderstandings  in 
the  matter,  a  committee  of  five  was  appointed  "  to  con- 
fer with  the  executive  committee  of  the  Home  Mission- 
ary Society,  expressing  to  it  the  confidence  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  and  the  churches  it  represents,  and  re- 
questing its  co-operation  in  this  plan,  as  far  as  its  prin- 
ciples will  admit,  and  also  requesting  a  statement  of 
\hQ principles  on  loliicli  its  appropriations  are  made  to 
the  churches  of  the  several  denominations  of  Christians 
who  support  it,  and  report  the  result  to  the  next  Gen- 
eral Assembly." 


220  PKESBYTEKIAN    CIIURCn. 

One  department,  second  to  none  in  imiDoi-tance,  cotb 
as  a  necessity  of  the  work,  and  a  bond  of  union  to  the 
church  itself,  viz.,  that  of  aiding  feeble  congregations 
in  the  erection  of  houses  of  worship,  was  not  finally- 
acted  upon  till  the  following  year.  The  assembly  of 
1853,  instituted  a  Church  Erection  committee,  and,  fol- 
lowing out  a  scheme  devised  and  put  in  successful  op- 
ei'ation  in  Missouii,  under  the  influence  of  Dr.  Artemas 
Bullard,  resolved  to  raise  by  contributions  fi^om  the 
chui'ches  the  sum  of  $100,000,  which  should  constitute 
2i  permanent  fund  for  that  purpose. 

As  a  further  instrument  of  the  new  plan,  the  assem- 
bly at  Washington  took  measui-es  to  encoui'age  the 
agency  of  the  periodical  j)ress  as  sustained  l^y  the 
friends  of  the  chui'ch.  An  arrangement,  partially  ef- 
fected with  the  New  York  Evangelist^  and  New  York 
Presbyterian.,  then  recently  united,  by  which  that  paper 
should  l3e  made  to  subserve  the  interests  of  the  denom- 
ination, received  the  approval  of  the  Assembly ;  and  the 
announcement  of  the  recent  establishment  of  a  (luar- 
terly,  to  be  called  the  Presbyterian  Quarterly  Ee- 
VEEw,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  to  be  "  under  the 
control  and  superintendonce  of  several  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished ministers  of  our  connection,"  called  forth  a 
warm  expression  of  satisfaction,  and  a  cordial  recom- 
mendation of  the  enterprise. 

The  i-esults  of  this  Assembly  were  eminently  grati- 
fying to  the  friends  of  progress.  The  members  went 
home  to  their  presl)yteries  and  chm-ches  feeling  that  a 
new  era  had  at  length  opened  on  their  beloved  chm-ch. 
It  had  now  fairly  taken  its  stand  as  an  independent 
body  of  Presb^'terian  Christians.    It  had  abandoned,  at 


mSTOEICAL    REVIEW    OF   THE    CHURCH.  221 

least  for  tlie  present,  all  thoiiglit  of  reunion  mill  the 
Old  School,  having  made  its  last  ineffectual  effort,  in 
1849,  in  a  proposition  for  friendly  "correspondence," 
and  with  a  solemn  renewal  of  its  declaration  of  "readi- 
ness to  meet  in  a  spirit  of  fraternal  kindness  and  Chris- 
tian love  any  overtures  that  may  be  made  to  us  fi'om 
the  other  body,"  resolved,  in  present  circumstances,  "  to 
take  no  fiu-ther  action  in  the  matter."  In  respect  to 
the  Congregational  chm-ches,  while  it  still  clung  to  the 
idea  of  co-operative  or  voluntary  societies,  i-egarding 
them,  as  they  had  been  regarded  by  all  parties  at  the 
l^egimiing,  simply  as  suitable  agencies  through  which 
the  chmxli  might  act,  they  still  claimed  for  themselves, 
as  they  freely  conceded  to  their  brethren,  the  I'ight  and 
duty  to  look  after  theii*  own  safety  and  prosperity  as 
an  organized  body,  and  supei'intend  and  carry  forward 
their  own  proper  portion  of  the  work  of  the  gospel. 
The  chm'ch  had  now,  to  a  degree  never  felt  before, 
the  consciousness  of  a  mission  among  the  churches  of 
Christ,  and  in  the  spuit  of  a  sacred  zeal,  trusting  in 
God,  was  resolved  to  hold  on  its  way,  and  press  for- 
ward in  the  holy  rivalry  of  love  and  good  woi'ks. 

But  the  way  was  not  as  clear  yet,  as,  perhaps,  some 
sanguine  men  had  supposed.  It  is  the  lot  of  men  to  en- 
counter antagonisms,  and  that  in  the  best  pursuits  and 
among  the  most  sincere  brethren.  When  the  plans  of 
the  Assembly  were  adopted,  there  seemed  no  doubt 
that  they  could  be  carried  into  execution  with  the 
cordial  concurrence  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society. 
They  were  in  full  accordance  with  the  principles  on 
which  that  society  was  founded  and  which  had  been 
repeated  again  and  again  in  its  official  documents.     In 


222  PRESBYTEFJAx  ciirncii. 

its  earliest  communications  to  the  Christian  pu])lic,  it 
had  invited  ecclesiastical  bodies,  "  presb}^teries,  and  sy- 
nods," to  become  its  auxiliaries,  and  pledged  itself,  in 
the  most  explicit  manner,  not  to  interfere  in  the  slio-ht- 
est   degree   ^vith  their  denominational  preferences  or 
their  denominational  work.    "  It  had  no  desire,"  it  said, 
"  did  it  possess  the  power,  to  assume  the  control  of  mis- 
sionary effort  on  the  field,  any  further  than  it  should  be 
conceded  by  the  confidence  of  the  public."     It  aimed 
only  "  to  be  the  servant  of  all  in  building  the  house  of 
Jehovah  in  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land."     This 
is  strong  language ;  but  the  founders  of  the  society  did 
not  mean  to  be  misunderstood.     These  pledges,   had 
they  been   steadily  adhered   to,  would   have   secured 
every  object  which  the  General  Assembly  had  in  view. 
The  rules  which  the  society  had  adopted  were  good  in 
the  main.     But  they  left  unprovided  for  some  objects 
which  the  Assembly  thought  quite  indispensable  to  the 
prosperity  of  its  churches.     And  how  were  these  to  be 
supplied  ?    The  question  was  asked.  Cannot  the  society 
so  modify^  its  rules  as  to  include  them  ?   This  it  declined 
to  do,  for  reasons  of  which  it  was  competent  to  judge. 
But  its  executive   committee  agreed  with  the  Assem- 
bly's committee,  that  it  was  better,  on  the  whole,  that 
cases  of  that  class  should  be  provided  for  "  by  such  lo- 
cal arrangements  as  would  not  divert  fimds  fi-om  the 
Home  I\Iissionaiy  Society."     So  far  all  seemed  satisfac- 
tory.    The  Assembly's  committee  made  a  temporary 
arrangement  Avitli  a  few  individuals  in  Philadelphia,  to 
sujiply  the  means,  and  the  Avork  was  commenced.     But 
finding  that  arrangement  not  sufliciently  reliable,  the 
Asseml)ly,  at  length,  made  a  more  adequate  provision, 


HISTORICAL    REVIEW    OF   TIIE    CIIURCH.  litid 

by  tlie  establisliment,  in  1855,  of  its  Church  Extension 
Committee. 

The  functions  of  this  committee  were  strictly  limited. 
It  was  not  to  be  in  "  an  Ecclesiastical  Board,"  or  "  to  in- 
terfere with  the  proper  functions  of  the  Home  Mission- 
ary Society  ;  "  but  only  to  provide  for  those  exceptional 
cases  which,  being  important  to  be  met,  could  not  well 
be  included  under  the  society's  general  rules.  The  com- 
mittee, in  their  Declaration  of  Principles,  on  which  they 
proposed  to  govern  themselves,  and  which  were  after- 
wards sanctioned  by  the  Assembly,  are  careful  to  say : 
"  We  have  no  wish  to  divert  funds  fi-om  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society.  On  the  contrary,  we  hope  and  expect 
that  this  supplementary  agency,  by  increasing  light, 
will  tend,  both  directly  and  indirectly,  to  enliance  the 
receipts  of  the  society.  We  feel  quite  sure,  that  the 
ends  of  our  appointment  mil  be  most  fully  accomplished 
by  preserving,  if  possible,  unharmed,  the  holy  ties  of 
fraternal  love  and  confidence  which  have  so  long  united 
us  and  our  Congregational  brethren,  in  furthering,  at 
home  and  all  over  the  earth,  the  kingdom  of  our 
blessed  Lord." 

But  times  had  changed,  and  were  changing  rapidly ; 
and  what  would  once  have  been  regarded  as  a  matter 
of  mutual  congratulation  was  now  looked  upon  with 
distrust  or  severely  censured.  For  several  years  there 
had  been  a  gromng  jealousy  between  the  two  denomi- 
nations co-operating  in  the  society,  especially  at  the 
West.  It  was  gradually  infecting  public  opinion  at  the 
East,  and  was  industriously  fomented  by  a  portion  of 
the  eastern  press.  The  correspondence  between  the 
Assembly  and  some  of  the  Congregational  bodies  had 


224  PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCII. 

begun  to  be  distui-bed  by  it.  The  plan  of  nnion  cihYo 
gated  by  the  Old  School,  in  1837,  as  subversive  of 
Presbyterianism,  had  been  abolished  by  the  convention 
at  Albany,  in  1852,  as  injurious  to  Congregational  in- 
terests. Congregationalism,  once  contented  ^vith  its 
New  England  home,  and  regarding  New  School  Pres- 
byterianism as  its  best  representative  in  other  parts  of 
the  country,  had  now,  as  it  had  a  pei-fect  riglit  to  do, 
entrenched  itself  at  the  commercial  centre,  and  was 
spreading  itself  as  a  distinct  denomination  over  all 
parts  of  the  Western  field.  The  competition  was  sharp. 
And  the  question  of  slaveiy,  in  this,  as  in  ever^i;hing 
else,  took  its  share  as  a  disturbing  element. 

In  these  circumstances,  the  society,  or  rather  its  ex- 
ecutive committee,  allowed  themselves  to  be  dra^vn  into 
the  controversy.  Their  position  was  no  doubt  a  difficult 
one.  They  made  it  worse  by  undertaking  to  arl)itrate 
between  two  o-reat  rival  denominations,  and  assuminor 
to  control  the  policy,  at  least,  of  one  of  them.  In  vari- 
ous quarters,  in  the  Congregational  I'anks,  the  action  of 
tlie  General  Assembly,  in  the  establishment  of  its 
Gliurch  JExtension  Committee^  was  denounced  as  an 
unfair  and  unfriendly  attempt  to  gain  denominational 
advantage.  The  society  took  up  the  contest,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  execute,  according  to  its  own  discretion,  rules, 
excluding  from  the  benefit  of  the  common  fund,  to 
wliich  the  Presbyterian  chm-ch  largely  contributed,  both 
missionaries  and  churches  who  did  not  themselves,  or 
who  helonged  to  ecclesiastical  bodies  who  did  not  "  con- 
tribute to  the  fluids  of  tlie  society,  according  to  the  fidl 
measure  of  their  ability  ;  "  that  is,  as  the  practice  under 
those  rules  showed  who  did  not  make  the  society  theii 


mSTOEICAL   EE\TEW    OF    THE    CHUECH.  225 

exclusi\^e  agent  in  Home  Missionary  work.      All  the 
churches  of  one  jv'esbytery  were  excluded  because  one 
prominent  cJmrcJi  in  that  presbytery  gave  its  collections 
to  a  feeble  church  at  its  side ;  and  those  of  another,  be- 
cause the  presbT/te/y,  as  such,  employed  a  considerable 
portion  of  its  contributions,  as  it  had  always  done,  in 
sustaining  its  own  itinerant  missionary.    Congregational 
bodies,  it  is  true,  took  the  same  liberties.     But  then, 
as   they  were   only  voluntary  associations,  individual 
churches  were  not  held  responsible  for  their  action. 
The  adoption  of  this  policy,  as  might  naturally  have 
been  expected,  called   forth  loud  remonstrances.     By 
impairing  confidence  in  the  impartiality  of  the  society, 
it  did  no  douljt  divert  funds  from  its  treasmy.     It  in- 
creased rai^idly  the  work   of   the  0/mrc/i   Extension 
Committee,  and  made  it  necessary  for  the  Assembly  to 
enlarge  its  functions.     To  aggravate  the  growing  diffi- 
culty, the  society  claimed  to  sit  in  judgment  on  the 
position  of  the  chm-ches,  in  regard  to  the  vexed  ques- 
tion of  slavery,  and  to  determine,  as  a  condition  of  aid, 
whether  or  not  the  decisions  of  the  Assembly  on  that 
subject  were  satisfactorily  carried  into  execution. 

It  was  in  this  posture  of  affairs  that  the  Assembly 
came  together  at  Wilmington,  in  the  year  1857,  and  the 
complaints  were  urgent.  It  was  plain  that  some  decisive 
action  must  be  taken.  The  society,  from  being,  as  it  de- 
clared itseH  at  the  beginning,  "the  servant  of  all,"  was 
becoming,  unconsciously  perhaps,  and  by  the  force  of 
circumstances,  the  master  of  all.  The  Assembly  could 
not  submit  to  the  new  policy  mthout  sacrificing  its  own 
independence,  and  allo^^dng  an  ii-responsible  body,  com 


226  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCn. 

posed  of  different  denominations,  to  interfere,  both  witli 
its  policy  and  its  ecclesiastical  disciplijie. 

That  it  mii^ht  not  act  without  a  full  understandinf^ 
of  the  case,  a  commission  was  raised  with  directions  to 
ascertain,  by  a  thorough  investigation,  the  facts  in  the 
case,  and  to  procure  such  other  information  as  may  be 
in  their  power,  relating  to  the  histoiy  of  our  connec- 
tion with  the  work  of  Home  Missions,  and  our  present 
relations  to  it ;  also,  to  learn  the  principles  and  modes 
of  administration  of  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society  over  the  entire  field  of  its  operations,  and  to 
submit  the  whole,  well  authenticated,  to  the  next  Gen- 
eral Assembly. 

In  pursuance  of  the  object  of  their  appointment,  the 
commission  during  the  year,  made  a  thorough  examina- 
tion of  the  historical  documents,  compiled  fi'om  the 
publications  of  the  society  a  careful  estimate  of  contri- 
butions and  benefactions,  instituted  an  extensive  corre- 
spondence, conferred  in  Avi'iting  ^vith  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  society,  and  prepared  an  extended  report 
which  they  presented  to  the  General  Assembly  con- 
vened at  Pittsburg,  in  1860. 

It  was  now  clear  that  a  separation  must  take  place. 
The  Assembly  came  reluctantly  to  the  conclusion.  The 
churclies  had  been  warmly  attached  to  the  society.  In 
the  Avhole  system  of  voluntary  societies,  there  were  none 
which  they  i-egarded  as  so  emphatically  their  o^vn.  It 
was  founded  chiefly  by  Presbyterians,  and  sustained  by 
them  several  years  before  their  Congregational  brethren 
came  into  it.  They  had  important  interests,  moral  and 
pecuniaiy,  involved  in  it.  And  if  part  they  must,  they 
desired  earnestly  to  j^art  amicably  and  with  a  fair  ad 


mSTOEICAL    EEVIEW    OF   THE    CnUECH.  227 

justment  of  all  mutual  claims.  To  accomplish,  if  possi- 
ble, this  object,  the  Assembly  made  one  more  effort  at 
conference ;  and,  since  the  society  held  no  meetings,  ex- 
cept once  a  year,  and  those  but  formal  ones  and  with  out 
an  adequate  representation,  it  resorted  to  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  committee,  with  instructions  to  invite  the  ap- 
pointment of  corresponding  committees  by  the  associa- 
tions with  which  the  Assembly  was  in  correspondence,  to 
confer  with  reference  to  the  adjustment  of  their  and  oui' 
mutual  relations  with  the  society,  and,  if  a  separation 
should  be  found  necessary,  to  agree  upon  equitable 
terms.  This  proposition  was  declined.  Most  of  the 
associations  declared  their  approval  of  the  offensive 
acts  of  the  society  and  saw  no  good  to  be  expected 
fi'om  nesrotiations. 

o 

The  next  year  the  Assembly  withdrew,  leaving  be 
hind  all  the  interests  .of  its  churches  in  an  institution 
which  they  had  done  so  much  to  build  up ;  leaving  also, 
for  the  sole  benefit  of  the  sister  denomination,  all  the 
unexpended  funds  and  legacies,  some  of  which  were 
large,  of  Presbyterian  contributors.  The  committee  of 
conference,  in  accordance  with  the  duty  assigned  them 
by  the  Assembly,  "  to  recommend  to  that  body  such 
plans  and  measures  j)ertaining  to  the  Home  Missionary 
work,  as  they  may  deem  wise  and  necessary,"  presented 
a  constitution,  carefully  di'awn  up,  in  the  adoption  of 
which  the  Assembly  resolved,  that  "the  General  As- 
sembly, in  accordance  with  the  obvious  indications  of 
providence,  and  agreeably  to  the  constitution  of  the 
church  (Form  of  Gov.  xviii.),  assumes  the  responsi- 
bility of  conducting  the  work  of  Home  Missions  within 
its  bounds."     To  this  end,  the  Assembly  hereby  insti 


228  PRESBYTERLVN   CnUKCH. 

tutes  a  permanent  committee,  to  be  kno^vu  as  the  Pkes- 
hyiickia:?^  Committee  of  Home  Missions. 

Tlie  Cliiircli  Extension  Committee,  of  wliicli  tlie  la- 
mented Dr.  Wallace  was  tlie  indefatigable  secretary, 
discharged  its  diiJicult  and  responsible  ti*ust,  during  the 
six  years  of  its  continuance,  with  eminent  wisdom  and 
fidelity,  and  with  perfect  good  faith  to  all  parties.  In 
all  that  time  it  never  had  a  divided  vote,  and  to  its 
agency  it  is  largely  due  that  the  church,  in  that  critical 
period,  was  not  only  ]3reserved  fi'om  disintegration,  but 
advanced  in  prosperity  and  usefulness. 

This  was  the  only  serious  collision  which  the  New 
School  ever  had  with  their  Congregational  brethren. 
Some  misunderstandings  threatened  at  one  time  to  dis- 
turb their  relations  with  the  American  Board.  But 
the  j)rompt  and  fi*aternal  manner  in  Avhich  the  Board 
met  the  case  in  their  action  at  Newark,  in  1S5G,  and 
again  at  Philadelphia,  in  1859,  quelled  at  once  the 
rising  discontent ;  and  fi-om  that  time  the  harmonious 
co-operation  of  the  two  parties  in  that  most  beneficent 
institution,  has  continued  unabated  to  this  hour. 

"VYe  have  had  occasion  to  glance  more  than  once  at 
the  question  of  slavery.  The  relations  of  the  New 
School  Church  to  that  subject  demand  a  much  fuller 
consideration  than  the  limits  of  this  chapter  will  allow. 
Probably  no  denomination  of  Christians  in  the  land 
has  devoted  a  larger,  if  so  large  a  portion  of  its  time 
and  strength  to  the  discussion  of  it.  It  finds  a  record 
in  the  minutes  of  almost  every  Assembly,  from  the  or- 
ganization of  tlie  separate  body  till  the  providence  of 
God,  forcing  on  the  issue,  took  it  out  of  the  range  of  de- 
liljeration.     In  1846,  nearly  the  Avhole  time  was  con- 


mSTOEICAL   EEVIEW    OF   THE   CHUECH.  229 

Humed  witli  it.  The  roll  was  called,  alternating  be- 
tween tlie  top  and  tlie  bottom,  to  give  every  member, 
northern  or  southern,  conservative  or  radical,  a  full  and 
equal  opportunity  to  express  his  opinions.  At  the  close, 
resolutions  were  adopted  by  a  large  majority,  —  92  to 
29,  —  declaring  "  the  system  as  it  exists  in  the  United 
States,  viewed  either  in  the  laws  of  the  several  states 
which  sanction  it,  or  in  its  actual  operation  and  results 
in  society,  an  intrinsically  umighteous  and  oppressive 
system,  and  opposed  to  the  principles  of  the  law  of 
God,  the  precepts  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  best  interests 
of  humanity."  The  Assembly  of  1849,  in  a  paper  oc- 
cupying four  pages  of  the  minutes,  recites  the  action  of 
fonner  Assemblies,  and,  while  deprecating  all  harsh  and 
indiscriminate  judgments,  exhorts  all  under  its  care  to 
do  their  utmost,  and  "make  all  necessary  sacrifices  to 
remove  this  foul  blot  on  our  holy  religion,"  and  specifies 
certain  evils  incident  to  the  system,  as  the  buying  and 
selling  of  slaves  by  way  of  traffic,  and  the  separation  of 
families,  as  "  evils  which  should  be  corrected  by  disci- 
pline." The  Assembly  of  1850,  after  another  long  dis- 
cussion i-unning  through  nearly  a  week,  adopted  by  a 
majority  of  87  to  16  the  article  known,  fi'om  the  place 
of  meeting,  as  "  the  Detroit  resolution : "  That  "  the 
holding  of  our  fellow-men  in  the  condition  of  slavery, 
exce23t  in  those  cases  where  it  is  miavoidable  by  the 
laws  of  the  state,  the  obligations  of  guardianship,  or  the 
demands  of  humanity,  is  an  offence  in  the  j^roper  import 
of  that  term,  as  used  in  the  Book  of  Discipline,  chap, 
i.  sec.  3,  and  should  be  regarded  and  treated  as  other 
offences."  The  Assembly  of  1853  reaffirms  the  Detroit 
resolution,  exhorts  to  "  patience  and  fi'aternal  confidence 


230  PEESBYTEKIAN   CnURCH. 

towards  brethren  who  are  subject  to  embarrassmeiils 
fi'om  which  we  are  happily  free,"  and  in  order  to  cor- 
rect misapprehensions,  and  allay  irritations  by  a  knoAvl- 
edge  of  the  real  facts,  requests  the  presbyteries  in  the 
slave-holding  states,  to  lay  before  the  next  general  As- 
sembly distinct  statements  respecting  the  number  of 
slaves  and  slave-holders  in  the  chui'ches,  how  fai-  they 
are  included  in  the  excepted  cases  of  the  Detroit  reso- 
lution, and  what  regard  is  paid  to  the  parental  and  con- 
jugal relations  and  the  religious  needs,  privileges,  and 
well-being  of  the  enslaved.  To  this  request  there  were 
ui'gent  protests :  it  was  pronounced  unconstitutional  and 
offensive,  and  was  never  complied  with.  In  1856,  both 
the  Assemblies  met  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  were 
numerously  attended.  The  question  came  up  on  the 
report  of  a  committee  on  the  constitutional  powers  of 
the  General  Assembly.  It  was  ably  debated ;  and  the 
southern  brethren  by  general  consent  occupied  a  large 
proportion  of  the  time.  They  put  a  special  construction 
of  their  o^vn  on  the  Detroit  resolution,  fi-ankly  acknowl- 
edited  that  the  views  of  the  South,  their  own  amons;  the 
rest,  had  materially  changed  in  regard  to  the  alleged 
evil  of  slavery,  and  did  not  hesitate  openly  to  avow  that 
they  now  accented  the  system  of  slaver^y.  The  report  of 
the  conunittee,  which  was  a  guarded  one,  and  carefully 
limited  the  constitutional  powers  of  the  Assembly,  was 
adoj^ted,  and  the  report  of  the  minority,  a  document 
covering  eight  pages,  contrary  to  the  custom,  was,  at 
the  request  of  the  southern  members,  printed  side  by 
side  with  it  in  the  minutes. 

The  Assembly  of  1857  found  itself  in  a  new  posture 
of  affairs.     Developments  had  been  made  duiing  the 


mSTOEICAL    REVIEW    OF   THE   CHUllCH.  231 

year,  wliicli  seemed  to  call  for  the  most  exj^licit  declar- 
ations. Tlie  Presbytery  of  Lexington,  Ky.,  gave  official 
notice,  that  a  number  of  its  ministers  and  ruling  elders 
held  slaves  ivovn  jjrincijyle  and  of  choice,  believing  it  to 
be,  according  to  the  Bible,  rigid ;  and  that  they,  with- 
out qualification,  assumed  the  responsibility  of  sustain- 
ing them  in  so  doing."  This  position,  the  Assembly 
felt  itself  called  upon  pointedly  to  condemn,  and  while 
still  expressing  "  a  tender  sympathy  for  those  who  de- 
plore the  evil  and  are  honestly  doing  all  in  their  power 
for  the  present  well-being  of  theu'  slaves,  and  for  their 
complete  emancipation,  declared  emphatically,  "Such 
doctrines  and  jyractices  cannot  permanently  he  tolerated 
in  the  Presbyterian  Churchy 

The  question  had  now  reached  its  final  issue.  The 
Assembly,  planting  itself  upon  the  well-defined  princi- 
ples of  the  Presbyterian  Church  from  the  beginning 
hitherto,  had  only  to  abide  the  result.  The  southern  sy- 
nods, determined  to  stand  or  fall  by  the  new  doctrines, 
immediately  withdrew  fi'om  the  body,  and  formed  them- 
selves into  a  separate  body  called  the  UmTED  Synod 
OF  THE  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  all  this  j^rocedui'e,  two  things  mark  the  conduct 
of  the  Assembly ;  viz.,  a  firm  and  explicit  condemnation 
of  the  whole  system  of  slavery,  on  the  one  hand,  and 
a  considerate  and  charitable  regard  for  the  circum- 
stances of  those  connected  with  it,  on  the  other.  Its 
action  was,  all  the  way,  decisive  and  yet  conservative, 
resolute  to  destroy  the  tares,  yet  tenderly  careful  not  to 
root  up  the  wheat  with  them. 

The  New  School  Presbyterian  Church  had  now  gone 
thi'ough  its  last  conflict,  and,  deeply  as  it  regretted  the 


232  PEESBYTERIAN    CIIUECH. 

loss  of  so  many  valued  brethren,  perceiving  that  there 
was  no  alternative,  acquiesced  cheerfully,  and  felt  itself 
only  the  stronger  for  its  diminished  numbers.  The  ter- 
lible  sti'uggle  through  wliich  the  country  was  about  to 
pass,  and  by  which  other  bodies  were  so  sorely  agitated, 
found  them  a  unit.  Theii*  views  in  respect  to  it,  were 
outspoken  and  unanimous ;  theu*  position  was  unambig- 
uous and  well  understood ;  and  it  is  no  disparagement 
to  any  others,  to  say  that,  in  respect  to  loyalty  to  the 
government,  and  readiness  to  make  any  sacrifices  for 
the  salvation  of  the  country  in  the  time  of  need,  none 
were  more  prompt  and  earnest,  whether  in  the  Assem- 
bly or  the  pulpit,  in  the  social  circle  or  on  the  field  of 
battle.  All  their  church  judicatories  spoke  one  voice, 
and  all  their  pulpits  rang  out  clear  and  strong,  the  obli- 
gations and  incitements  of  Cheistian  Pateiotis:^. 

On  this  23oint,  the  General  Asseml^ly  led  the  Avay,  and 
set  the  example.  At  the  meeting  in  Syracuse,  in  1861, 
just  after  the  commencement  of  the  war,  "the  al^sorb- 
ing  topic  that  is  ^^ressing  upon  the  heart  of  the  whole 
country,"  says  the  Presbyterian  Quarterly  Re vieiu^  "it 
now  appeared  was  the  first  to  occupy  the  Assembly." 
Meetings  for  prayer,  and  discussion  on  the  state  of  the 
country,  were  held  on  three  successive  evenings,  and 
"  the  deepest  enthusiasm  was  manifested."  A  carefully 
prepared  paper  was  adopted,  in  which,  after  stating  the 
main  facts  of  the  rebellion,  and  citing  the  patriotic 
words  of  the  old  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia, at  the  opening  of  the  war  of  the  Kevolution,  in 
1775,  the  Assembly  declared:  "We  should  be  recreant 
to  our  high  trust,  were  Ave  to  withhold  an  earnest  pro- 
test against  all  such  imlawful  and  treasonable  acts:" 
and,  in  pursuance  of  this  declaration, — 


mSTOEICAL    EEVIEW    OF   THE    CHUECIT.  233 

^^Besolved^  3.  That  inasmucli  as  we  believe,  according 
to  our  Form  of  Government,  that  God,  the  Su2:)reme 
Judge  and  King  of  all  the  world,  has  ordained  civil 
magistrates  to  be  under  him,  over  the  people,  for  his 
own  glory  and  the  public  good,  and  to  this  end  hath 
armed  them  with  the  power  of  the  sword  for  the  de- 
fence and  encouragement  of  tliem  that  are  good,  and 
for  the  punishment  of  evil-doers,  there  is,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  Assembly,  no  hlood  or  treasure  too  precious 
to  he  devoted  to  the  defence  and  perpetuity  of  the  gov 
ernment  in  all  its  constitutional  autliorityr 

The  Assembly  at  Cincinnati,  in  1862,  again  referring 
to  the  same  explicit  words  of  our  Form  of  Government, 
condemning  the  rebellion,  appi'oving  the  war  as  just  and 
necessary,  expressing  great  confidence  in  the  President 
and  his  cabinet,  the  commanders  of  the  army  and  navy, 
the  soldiers,  etc.,  and  recording  the  opinion,  t^hat, 
"This  whole  insurrectionary  movement  can  be  traced 
to  one  primordial  root,  and  one  only — African  slavery 
and  the  love  of  it,  and  the  determination  to  make  it 
perpetual : " 

^''Resolved^  1.  That  we  here,  in  deep  humility  for  oiu 
sins  and  the  sins  of  oui'  nation,  and  in  heartfelt  devo- 
tion, lay  ourselves,  with  all  we  are  and  have,  on  the 
altar  of  God  and  our  country ;  and  we  hesitate  not  to 
pledge  the  chm^ches  and  all  Christian  23eo23le  under  om' 
care,  as  ready  to  join  with  us  in  the  same  fervent  sym- 
pathies, and  united  prayers,  that  our  rulers  in  the  cabi- 
net, and  om-  commanders  in  the  field  and  on  the  waters, 
and  the  brave  men  under  their  leadership,  may  take  cour- 
age under  the  assui-ance  that  the  Presbyterian  Church 
OF  THE  Ukited  States  are  with  them  with  heart  and 


234  PRESBYTERIAN   CnURCH. 

Jiand^  in  life  arid  deaths  in  this  fearful  existing  con' 
test!''''  A  copy  of  the  resolutions  was  sent  to  the  Pres 
ident,  accompanied  by  a  letter  expressing  "  in  a  more 
personal  manner,  the  sentiments  of  the  chui'ch  in  refer- 
ence to  himself,  and  the  great  issues  with  which  he  was 
called  to  deal."  "Since  the  day  of  youi*  inaugui'ation," 
they  say,  "  the  thousands  of  our  membershij:)  have  fol- 
lowed you  with  unceasing  prayer,  beseeching  the  throne 
of  grace  in  your  behalf."  "In  our  great  chui'ch  courts, 
in  our  lesser  judicatures,  in  our  weekly  assemblages,  in 
the  house  of  God,  at  oui'  family  altars,  in  the  inner 
place  of  prayer,  you  have  been  the  buixlen  of  our  peti- 
tions." "We  give  praise  not  to  man,  but  to  God.  In 
your  fii'mness,  your  integrity,  challenging  the  admira- 
tion even  of  your  enemies,  your  moderation,  youi'  "svis- 
dom,  the  timeliness  of  your  acts  exhibited  at  critical 
junctm-es,  youi'  paternal  words,  so  eminently  fitting  the 
chosen  head  of  a  great  people,  we  recognize  the  hand 
and  power  of  God."  Exjjressing  theii*  "deep  sympa- 
thy "  with  him  in  his  great  ti'ust,  and  in  the  depth  of 
his  then  recent  personal  bereavement,  pledging  him 
"  all  the  support  that  loyal  hearts  can  offer,"  referring 
to  the  sons  of  the  church,  ministers,  and  others,  who 
had  served,  and  some  of  them  died  in  the  common  cause, 
and  adding,  in  regard  to  the  latter,  "we  are  glad  that 
we  have  given  them :  we  gladly  pledge  as  many  more 
as  the  cause  of  our  coimtiy  may  demand,"  it  concludes 
thus:  "AVe  believe  there  is  but  one  path  before  this 
people:  this  gigantic  and  inexpressibly  wicked  rebel- 
lion must  be  destroyed ;  the  interests  of  humanity,  the 
temple  of  God  and  his  church,  demand  it  at  our  hands. 
May  God  give  to  you  his  great  support,  preserve  you, 


HISTOEICAL    REVIEW    OF   TIIE    CnUECH.  235 

impart  to  you  more  than  human  wisdom,  and  2:>ermit 
you  ere  long,  to  rejoice  in  the  deliverance  of  our  be- 
loved country,  in  peace  and  unity." 

To  this  warm-hearted,  as  well  as  pati'iotic  letter,  the 
President  retm*ned,  through  the  Secretary  of  State,  the 
following  reply :  — 

"Department  OF  State,  June  7,  1861. 

To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 

the  United  States  holding  its  Annual  Session  in  the 

city  of  Cincinnati :  — 

"Eeverend  GENTLEMEii,  —  I  havc  had  the  honor  of 
receiving  youi-  address  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  proceedings  of  your  venerable  body  on 
the  subject  of  the  existing  insurrection,  by  which  that 
address  was  accompanied, 

"  These  papers  have  l^een  submitted  to  the  President. 
I  am  instructed  to  convey  to  you  his  most  profound  and 
grateful  acknowledgements,  for  the  fervent  assurances 
of  support  and  symj)athy  which  they  contain.  For 
many  years  hereafter,  one  of  the  greatest  subjects  of 
felicitation  among  good  men  will  be,  the  signal  success 
of  the  government  of  the  United  States  in  preserving 
om'  federal  union,  which  is  the  ark  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty  on  this  continent,  and  throughout  the  woi'ld.  All 
the  events  of'  our  generation  which  j)receded  this  at- 
tempt at  revolution,  and  all  that  shall  happen  after  it, 
wall  be  deemed  unimportant  in  consideration  of  that 
one  indispensable  and  invaluable  achievement.  The  men 
of  om*  generation  whose  memory  will  be  the  longest 
and  the  most  honored,  will  be  they  who  thought  the 
most  earnestly,  prayed  the  most  fervently,  hoped  the 


236  PEESBYTEEIAN    CIIUECH. 

most  confidently^  fought  the  most  heroically,  and  suf 
f ered  the  most  patiently,  in  the  sacred  cause  of  f i-eedom 
and  humanity.  The  record  of  the  action  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Church,  seems  to  the  President  worthy  of  its 
traditions  and  its  aspirations,  as  an  impoi-tant  bi'anch  of 
the  church  founded  by  the  Saviour  of  men." 

"  Commending  our  yet  distracted  country  to  the  in- 
terposition and  guardian  care  of  the  Ruler  and  Judge 
of  nations,  the  President  will  persevBre,  steadily  and 
hopefully,  in  the  great  work  committed  to  his  hands,  re- 
lying upon  the  \drtue  and  intelligence  of  the  people  of 
the  United  States,  and  the  candor  and  benevolence  of 
all  good  men." 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be.  Reverend  Gentlemen, 
"  Yom-  very  obedient  servant, 

"WiLLLOiH.  Seward." 

The  Assembly  met  in  Philadelphia,  1863,  at  a  perilous 
crisis.  The  national  heart  had  been  wruna:  to  the  core 
by  the  defeats  of  the  previous  summer.  The  conscrip- 
tion was  in  process  of  enforcement,  and  treason  and 
semi-treason  were  bold  and  boastful.  The  Assembly 
reaffirmed  all  the  2:)rinci]3les  and  declarations  of  previous 
assemblies  on  this  subject,  declared  it  to  be  "the  relig- 
ious duty  of  all  good  citizens  promptly  and  cheerfully 
to  sustain  the  government  by  every  means  in  their 
power,  and  stand  by  it  in  its  peril;"  that  "loyalty, 
unreserved  and  unconditional,  to  tlie  constitutionally 
elected  government  of  the  United  States,  not  as  the 
transient  passion  of  the  hour,  but  as  th(3  intelligent  and 
permanent  state  of  the  pul^lic  conscience,  is  not  only  a 
sacred  Christian  obligation,  but   indij  pensible,   if  we 


mSTOEICAL   KEVIEW    OF   THE    CHURCH.  237 

would  save  the  nation;"  that  "the  Proclamation  of 
Emancipation,  issued  by  the  President,"  is  to  be  recog- 
nized "  with  devout  gratitude,"  as  a  fruit  of  the  "  won- 
der-working power  of  God:"  and  exhorted  all  the 
churches  and  ministers,  "  to  stand  by  theii-  country,  to 
pray  for  it,  to  discountenance  all  forms  of  complicity 
with  treason  —  having  on  this  subject  one  heart  and 
one  mind;  waiting  hopefully  on  providence;  patient 
amid  delays;  undaunted  by  reverses;  persistent  and 
untiring  in  effort,  until,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  the 
glorious  motto.  One  Country  and  Constitution^  and  one 
Destiny^  shall  be  enthroned  as  the  sublime  fact  of  the 
present,  and  the  sublime  harbinger  of  the  future."  A 
copy  of  the  whole  paper  was  transmitted  to  the  Presi- 
dent, and  appointed  to  be  read  in  all  our  pul23its. 

The  utterances  of  the  Assembly  of  1864  were  of  the 
same  tenor,  reaffirming  the  j^revious  action,  recognizing 
the  good  hand  of  God  in  the  disappointments  and  de- 
lays of  the  war,  exhorting  to  renewed  zeal,  and  urging 
all  Christians  to  refrain  fi'om  weakenins:  the  adminis- 
tration  by  "  ill-timed  complaints,"  "  and  fi'om  all  speech 
and  action  which  tend  to  difference." 

When  the  Assembly  of  1867  met  in  Brooklyn,  the 
rebellion  was  conquered;  but  the  final  stroke  which 
struck  do^vn  the  beloved  and  honored  chief  of  the  na- 
tion had  filled  all  loyal  hearts  with  the  profoundest 
horror.  The  Assembly  recognized  with  joy  and  thank- 
fulness, the  divine  goodness  in  the  happy  termination 
of  the  war,  and  added  its  emphatic  declaration,  "  that 
in  our  opinion  a  nation  like  ours,  whose  corner-stone  is 
equal  rights,  cannot  permanently  prosper,  nor  be  ex- 
empt fi'om  futui'e  convulsions  unless  the  principles  of 


238  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

civil  and  religious  liberty  are  firmly  carried  out  and 
fully  applied,  with  only  just  and  healthful  limitations, 
without  reference  to  class  or  color^  to  all  the  jyeople. 
Neither  the  law  nor  the  Gospel,  when  rightly  imder- 
stood,  will  allow  us  to  exclude  from  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  free  men,  those  who  are  citizens  like  our- 
selves, many  of  whom  have  imperilled  theii'  lives  in 
this  conflict." 

The  tribute  of  this  Assembly  to  the  excellences  of  the 
martyred  President,  will  form  a  fitting  conclusion  of 
what  we  have  here  to  say  on  this  subject :  "In  his  life, 
he  struck  tlie  chains  from  the  trembling  limbs  of  mil- 
lions, \dndicated  the  rights  of  humanity,  and  illustrated 
the  glory  of  a  patriotism  made  strong  by  devout  confi- 
dence in  God;  in  his  death,  he  touched  the  cords  of 
sympathy  in  the  heart  of  universal  man,  and  won  over 
to  our  holy  cause,  every  true  lover  of  his  race,  every 
soul  in  which  dwells  the  hope  of  freedom." 

The  unanimity  which  pervaded  every  Assembly  dur- 
.iig  all  this  period  was  very  remarkable,  and  illustrates 
in  an  eminent  degree,  the  wisdom  of  that  freedom  of 
discussion,  and  that  frankness  and  firmness  of  testimony 
which,  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  interests  of  the 
country,  and  the  lights,  as  Avell  as  duties  of  man,  had 
characterized  their  procediu'e  from  the  ])eginning. 

We  shall  be  obliged,  for  want  of  space,  to  pass  has- 
tily over  the  years  of  steadily  increasing  prosperity 
which  succeeded  these  conflicts.  We  may  say  of  them, 
in  words  borrowed  from  an  earlier  history,  "  Then  had 
the  chm'ch  rest,  and  was  edified,  and,  walking  in  the  fear 
of  the  Lord  and  the  comfort  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  was 
multiplied."    Its  several  departments  of  self-developing 


HISTORICAL   EEVIEW    OF   THE    CHUECH.  239 

and  evangelizing  work  liad  now  attained  their  full 
organization,  and  were  in  vigorous  and  hopeful  opera 
tion. 

"The  Presbyterian  Committee  of  Home  Missions" 
was  organized  in  1861,  and  has  been  steadily  increasing 
in  efficiency.  Its  receipts,  the  first  year,  were  $27,244, 
and  the  number  of  its  missionaries  195.  In  1869,  it 
had  465  missionaries  and  an  income  of  $162,421.  Its 
missionaries  report  70  new  churches  formed  during  the 
year,  2,400  hopeful  conversions,  and  2,191  added  to  the 
chui'ches  on  profession  of  their  faith.  The  fi*eedmen's 
department,  organized  in  1865,  received  and  exj^ended, 
during  the  same  year,  al^out  $16,000,  and  reports  79 
teachers  employed  and  20  others  under  appointment  — 
all  in  the  southern  States. 

"  The  Trustees  of  the  Chui'ch  Erection  Fund,"  ap- 
pointed in  1854,  were  incorporated  by  the  Legislature 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  in  the  year  following.  The 
original  basis  of  their  operations  was  the  permanent  fund 
of  $100,000,  raised  by  contributions  fi*om  the  chiu'ches, 
most  of  it  in  the  year  1854,  the  interest  to  be  employed 
in  promoting  the  object  chiefiy  in  the  way  of  loans. 
The  establishment  of  this  fund  operated  as  a  strong 
bond  of  union  in  the  church.  In  the  year  1866,  the 
basis  was  enlarged,  and  an  annual  contribution  ordered, 
and  freer  disbursements.  Since  that  time  this  organiza- 
tion has  been  rapidly  growing  in  importance,  and  now 
stands  in  the  very  fii'st  rank  of  the  e\'angeliz;ing  agen- 
cies of  the  chui'ch.  In  1869,  it  reports  an  increase  of 
$54,996,  and  of  chui'ches  aided  about  70. 

The  "Permanent  Committee  on  Education  for  the 
Ministry,"  organized  in  1856,  came  slowly  into  opera 


2 40  PEESBYTERIAN    CHUKCH. 

tion,  moulding  its  plans  gradually,  and  embarrassed  by 
tlie  remains  of  the  old  voluntary  system.  In  ISGO,  its 
income  amounted  to  $26,5G9,  and  the  number  of  its 
l)eneiiciaries  to  210;  viz.,  63  in  the  theological,  102  in 
the  collegiate,  and  45  in  the  preparatory  department. 

The  Committee  "  on  Doctrinal  Tracts,"  organized  in 
1852,  has  become  the  "Presbyterian  Publication  Com- 
mittee." In  1869,  its  income  from  all  sources  was 
$66,214,  of  which  $6,851  was  expended  in  its  ^mrely 
benevolent  work. 

"  The  Trustees  of  the  Presbyterian  House  "  located  in 
Philadelpliia  and  incorporated  by  the  Legislatui-e  of 
Pennsylvania,  hold  for  the  uses  of  the  church  a  valu- 
able property,  pui'chased  chiefly  by  donations  made  by 
individuals  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  no^v  estimated 
to  l)e  worth  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
Under  their  charge  has  been  placed  the  Ministerial  Re- 
lief Fund,  managed  by  an  executive  committee,  which 
coimnenced  its  operations  in  1864.  In  1869,  they  report 
$13,465  received  from  ordinary  sources,  and  $8,200  a 
special  donation  towards  a  permanent  fund;  also  29 
disabled  ministers  aided,  33  wido\\^s,  and  4  families  of 
orphans.  The  average  age  of  the  ministers  Avas  76 
years,  and  of  their  ministry  40  years. 

The  Assembly  has  also  a  Permanent  Committee  on 
Foreign  IMissions  Avhose  functions  are  not  the  I'aising 
and  di8tril)uting  of  funds  or  the  conducting  of  missions, 
but  the  supervising  of  our  part  of  the  work  and  report- 
ing the  results  to  the  Asseml)ly.  From  their  report,  in 
1869,  it  api^ears  that  our  contributions  for  tliat  year  to 
the  American  Board  ^vere,  in  money,  about  $93,643,  and 
in  laljorers,  71 ;    viz.,  52  male  and  19  female  mission- 


HISTORICAL    HE  VIEW    OF   THE    CHURCH.  241 

aries.  In  1868  the  contributions  were  $110,602 ;  in 
1867,  $110,725. 

The  literary  and  theological  institutions  with  which 
the  New  School  Church  has  been  connected,  are  inde- 
pendent in  their  control  and  management,  though  in 
perfect  harmony  with  it,-  for  the  most  part,  in  theii* 
views  and  aims.  It  was  no  part  of  its  original  policy, 
even  where  it  had  a  controlling  influence,  to  establish 
an  organic  connection. 

Marysville  College,  in  East  Tennessee,  was  founded 
in  1819.  It  had  a  theological  department,  and,  of  its 
graduates,  120  have  found  their  way  into  the  ministiy. 
Its  work  was  suspended  during  the  war,  but  resumed 
in  1866.  Efforts  are  now  in  progress  for  its  endow- 
ment, towards  which  $65,000  have  been  pledged. 

Of  Hamilton  College,  President  Bro^vn  remarks: 
"  The  relations  of  the  college  to  the  Presbyterian  Church 
are  very  intimate.  It  is  under  no  ecclesiastical  jm^isdic- 
tion,  and  is  liberal  in  its  general  policy,  but  the  large 
majority  of  its  trustees,  ofiicers,  and  students  are  con- 
nected with  that  church.  It  is  prosperous  and  growing, 
and  during  the  period  of  the  separation  has  graduated 
923  pupils,  and  added  $300,000  to  its  property."  That 
eminent  benefactor  of  the  church,  John  C.  Baldwin, 
recently  deceased,  has  made  the  college  one  of  fom*, 
his  residuary  legatees. 

In  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  where  the  New 
School  at  the  time  of  the  disruption  found  its  chief  field 
of  labor  and  promise,  there  is  a  cluster  of  colleges,  some 
of  which  were  then  in  their  infancy,  and  others  sprang 
into  being  soon  after,  —  Western  Reserve,  Marietta, 
Illinois,  Wabash,  Knox,  and  Beloit.   They  were  founded, 

16 


242  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

for  the  most  part,  by  Presbyteiians,  and  sustained 
largely  by  New  England  liberality.  In  these,  Presby- 
terians and  Congregationalists  have  a  joint  interest, 
though  some  have  come  to  lean  chiefly  to  the  one  de- 
nomination, and  some  to  the  other.  In  a  most  ciitical 
period  of  their  history,  they  were  sustained,  if  not  saved 
fi-om  utter  extinction,  by  the  timely  aid  of  that  unpre- 
tending, but  most  useful,  organization,  "The  Society  for 
promoting  Collegiate  and  Theological  Education  at  the 
West."  Its  indefatigable  secretary,  the  Rev.  Theron 
Bald^vin,  D.D.,  a  man  as  noble,  energetic,  and  far-seeing 
as  he  was  unassuming  and  modest,  —  a  Presbyterian  at 
the  beginning,  a  Congregationalist  afterwards,  a  sectar- 
ian never,  —  was  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
the  life  and  soul  of  the  institution ;  and  the  cause  of 
Christian  learning  in  om*  land  (especially  at  the  West), 
which  now  joins  his  many  personal  friends  in  their  sor- 
rows over  his  new-made  grave,  Avill  hold  his  stainless 
memory  in  devout  admiration  as  long  as  such  learning 
retains  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  American  Christians. 

Illinois,  Knox,  and  Beloit  are  now  chiefly  Congrega- 
tional; though  they  have  been  largely  patronized  by 
Presbyterians  and  done  them  much  valuable  service. 

Western  Reserve  was  founded  in  1826,  and  was  re- 
garded with  special  interest  by  the  New  School  Church 
in  its  early  struggles,  for  the  theological  department  at- 
tached to  it.  President  Hitchcock  says  of  the  college, 
in  18G8  :  "  Its  number  of  alumni  is  319.  Of  these,  more 
than  one-third  are  ministers  of  the  gospel,"  Among 
them  are  not  a  few  Home  and  Foreicrn  Missionaries. 

Wabash  College  was  founded  in  1832.  "  On  the  23d 
of  November,"  says  President  Tuttle,  "five  ministers 


HISTOEICAL    REVIEW    OF   THE    CHURCH.  243 

and  three  laymen  met,  and  counselled,  and  prayed,  and 
resolved  to  go  forward."  "  They  selected  tlie  spot,  di'ove 
a  stake  to  mark  it,  and  all  kneeled  down  in  the  snow, 
and  consecrated  the  proposed  enterprise  to  God."  Its 
alumni,  in  1868  were  199.  It  has  seen  hard  times,  but 
is  now  free  from  debt,  has  a  permanent  endowment  of 
$105,000,  a  library  of  10,000  volumes,  and  several  thou- 
sands of  acres  of  wild  lands,  on  which  to  found  golden 
expectations.  This  college  is  another  of  the  residuary 
legatees  named  in  the  will  of  the  late  Mr.  John  C 
Baldwin. 

Marietta  College  graduated  its  first  class  in  1838. 
The  history  of  its  struggles  and  triumphs  is  much  like 
that  of  the  other  two.  Its  graduates  number  298,  of 
whom  115  are  devoted  to  the  ministry.  During  twenty- 
five  years,  the  West  has  raised  for  its  use  $150,000. 
Its  property  now  amounts  to  $180,000. 

Lake  Forest  has  as  yet  no  organized  collegiate  de- 
partment, but  the  Preparatory  department  and  Female 
seminary  are  well  established  and  prosperous ;  and  the 
property  and  funds  may  be  safely  valued  at  from 
$250,000  to  $300,000.  It  is  "  wholly  under  Presbyte- 
rian contro]."  There  is  also  the  beginning  of  a  college 
enterprise  in  Iowa,  for  which  there  is  a  property  of 
perhaj^s  $50,000  in  value. 

Of  the  Theological  Seminaries,  Auburn  is  the  oldest. 
It  was  founded  in  1819  ;  it  has  a  professorship  fund  ot 
$125,000,  an  education  fund  of  $65,000,  a  small  library 
fund,  and  a  library  of  8,000  volumes.  The  corner-stone 
of  a  new  library  building  has  just  been  laid,  to  be 
erected  thi'ough  the  munificence  of  Hon.  Wm.  E. 
Dodge,  and  Hon.  E.  B.  Morgan.     Its  graduates  number 


244  PRESBYTEEIAN   CHURCH. 

not  far  from  950,  of  whom  550  were  graduated  since 
1838. 

Lane  Seminary  went  into  full  operation  as  a  theolog- 
ical institution,  in  1832.  The  history  of  its  early 
hopes,  embarrassments,  struggles,  disappointments,  and 
successes,  is  one  of  uncommon  interest.  Some  of  the 
ablest  names  in  the  church  are  to  be  found  in  the  cat- 
alogue of  its  faculty.  The  receipts  in  1869,  were 
$27,041.  During  the  separation,  there  has  been  con- 
tributed to  its  funds  about  $120,000.  The  whole 
number  of  its  graduates  is  481. 

Union  Theological  Seminary  is  the  youngest  of  the 
three.  It  was  organized  in  1836,  and  was  incorporated 
by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York,  March  17, 
1839.  The  design  of  the  founders  as  expressed  in  the 
constitution,  was  "  to  provide  a  Theological  Seminary  in 
the  midst  of  the  greatest  and  most  growing  community, 
which  may  commend  itself  to  all  men  of  moderate 
views  who  desire  to  live  free  fr'om  party  strife,  and  to 
stand  aloof  fr*om  all  extremes  of  doctrine  or  of  prac- 
tice." Eveiy  director  on  entering  upon  his  office,  and 
eveiy  member  of  the  faculty,  triennally,  or  as  often  as 
required  by  the  boai'd,  must  declare  his  approval  of  the 
Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  and  the  Presbyterian 
fomi  of  church  government,  and  promise  to  maintain 
them  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office.  The 
institution  has  been  eminently  prosperous,  its  property 
exceeds  half  a  million,  and  measures  are  already  in  op- 
eration for  securing  for  it  half  a  million  more.  It  has 
a  library  of  great  value,  containing  about  35,000  vol- 
umes. Its  graduates  number  853,  among  whom  are  a 
veiy  large  proportion  of  Domestic  and  Foreign  Mission- 


mSTOEIOAL    REVIEW    OF   THE    CHTJECH.  245 

aries.  The  Seminary  is  not  under  ecclesiastical  control, 
'but  is,  in  a  measure,  under  tlie  supervision  of  tlie  two 
nearest  synods,  wlio  aj^point  annually  a  committee  to 
attend  the  examinations  and  report. 

The  beginning  of  a  Theological  School  for  the  educa- 
tion of  ministers  for  the  Germans,  in  which  instruction 
is  to  be  given  both  in  German  and  English,  has  been 
made,  during  the  past  year,  at  Newark,  N.J.,  with  en 
coui'aging  success. 

The  periodical  literature  of  the  New  School  church 
deserves  honorable  mention.  Besides  other  local 
papers,  the  American  Presbyterian^  at  Philadelphia, 
has  shown  a  warm  zeal  for  its  interests,  and  the  New 
York  Evangelist  has  done  it  excellent  service.  Much 
credit  is  due  to  the  Presbytery  Reporter^  a  monthly  pub- 
lished at  Alton,  111.,  now  in  its  eighth  volume,  for  the 
ability  and  faithfulness  with  which  it  has  watched  over 
the  interests  of  the  church  in  the  North-west.  During 
the  ten  critical  years,  fi^om  1852  to  1862,  the  Presbyte 
RiAN  Quarterly  Review,  ably  conducted  by  an  associ- 
ation of  ministers  in  Philadelphia,  de:^ended  its  cause  and 
was  an  honor  to  its  Christian  intelligence.  The  A:\rERi- 
CAN  Theological  Review,  founded  in  1859,  on  a  basis 
not  distinctly  denominational,  and  united  with  the  P^^es- 
hyterian  Pevieiu  in  1863,  combining  the  names  and 
objects  of  both,  has,  under  the  charge  of  Prof.  H.  B. 
Smith,  its  editor  from  the  beginning,  assumed  and  se- 
ciu'ed  a  place  second  to  none  in  the  land. 

The  general  statistical  results  of  the  thii'ty  years  of 
the  separate  existence  of  the  chui'ch,  will  be  given  in 
the  appendix,  by  a  more  accurate  and  practised  hand. 
It  need  only  be  said  here,  that  with  some  vicissitudes, 


246  PKESBYTEKIAN   CHURCH. 

the  body  has    made  steady  progress  both  in  strength 
and  numbers.     The  sifting  process  refeiTed  to  in  the 
early  period,  and  the  retirement  fi'om  it  of  the  southera 
synods  in  1857,  greatly  reduced  its  numbers,  but  they 
were  soon   replenished ;   and  whereas,  in   1843,  there 
were  but  94  Presbyteries,  1,263  ministers,  and  1,496 
churches,  in  1869,  there  were  113  Presbyteries,  1,848 
ministers,  and  1,631  chui-ches.     It  would  be  instructive 
could  we  trace  its  fortunes  in  its  local  developments, 
in  cities  and  to^vns  and  in  the  new  territories  of  an  ad- 
vancing  countiy.     In   some   places   the   progress   has 
been  cheering;,  in  others  slow  and  embarrassed.     For 
example,  in  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis,  neither  branch  oi 
the  church  has  gained  much  dui-ing  the  whole  period, 
Giving  partly,  it  is  believed,  to  mutual  jealousies.     In 
Chicago,  since  the   year  1842,  the  advance  has  been 
rapid.     Whereas,  then,  there  was  but  one  chui'ch,  and 
that  in  an  uncertain  condition,  now  there  are  in  the 
city,  or   closely   connected   with   it,  fifteen,  and   they 
are  all  flourishing.     In  Missouri,  under  the  energetic 
influence  of  Dr.  Artemas  Bullard  and  his  associates,  the 
growth  was  rapid  till  about  1856 ;  then,  owing  to  the 
growing  influence  of  slavery,  the  decline  was  constant 
till  the  war  began  and  everything  Avas  thrown  into 
confusion.     Since  the  war,  New  School  men  have  met  a 
hearty  welcome  in  the  regenerated  State,  and  now  it 
shows  a  larger  roll  of  ministers,  churches,  and  members 
than  ever  before.     Somewhat  similar  has  been  the  case 
of  East  Tennessee,  where  we  have  now  38  chui'ches  and 
an  encouraging  opening  for  the  future.     In  Kansas,  not 
much  was  accomplished  till  1838,  when  a  band  of  eight 
young  men  from  one  class  in  Union  Seminary,  entered 


HISTOEICAL    EE\TEW    OF   THE    CH[JECH.  247 

the  State,  and  tlie  success  was  signal.  In  October  of 
that  year,  ten  young  men  were  ordained  at  the  same 
meeting  of  presbytery,  and  now  we  have  a  Synod  of 
Kansas  with  three  presbyteries,  thirty-one  ministers, 
and  forty-one  churches ;  and  the  work  of  exploration, 
organization,  and  church  erection  is  going  rapidly  for- 
ward. 

The  position  of  the  New  School  Chui'ch  towards 
the  Reunion  I'equii-es  but  a  word  here,  as  that  will  be 
the  subject  of  another  chapter.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that 
position  has  been  throughout  frank,  cordial,  and  re- 
markably unanimous.  The  ill  success  of  their  early 
efforts  seemed  to  forbid  theii-  again  taking  the  initia- 
tive ;  and,  on  strictly  denominational  grounds,  they  had 
no  desire  to  contract  new  relations.  After  many  dis- 
couragements and  long  straggles  they  had  won  a  place 
among  the  branches  of  the  church  of  Christ,  in  their 
own  esteem  inferior  to  none.  Their  organization  for 
church  work  was  completed,  and  seemed,  from  experi- 
ence, to  have  some  special  advantages.  They  understood 
each  other  perfectly,  and  were  happy  mth  each  other. 
They  loved  their  own  chm^ch,  and  the  name  New 
School  had  come  to  have  very  pleasant  and  inspiring 
associations.  They  shrunk  fi-om  breaking  up  old  ties 
and  forming  new  ones,  which  might,  for  aught  they 
knew,  lead  to  new  complications.  But  they  looked  to 
the  common  interest  of  the  Presbyterian  cause  and 
especially  of  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  had  no  hesitation. 
It  may  be  confidently  affirmed  that,  among  all  the  par- 
ties now  bpought  together  in  the  happy  union  of  which 
this  volume  is  a  memorial,  none  worked  harder  or 
prayed  more  fervently,  or  were  more  mlling  to  make 


248  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

every  reasonable  sacrifice,  to  bring  about  the  blessed 
consummation. 

As  to  the  Basis  on  wliicli  the  Reunion  stands,  the 
members  of  the  now  historical  New  School  Chui'ch  have 
nothing  more  to  desire.  "  The  standards  pure  and  sim- 
ple "  have  ever  been  their  preferred  standards.  When 
they  stood  alone,  in  the  days  when  suspicion  was 
throAvn  by  some  upon  their  orthodoxy,  their  General 
Assembly,  again  and  again,  enjoined  upon  their  chui-ches 
"  the  faithful  use  of  the  Westminster  Catechism,  in  the 
instruction  of  the  young."  If  any  ask  for  a  more  ex- 
plicit ex23osition  of  the  particular  phase  of  Calvinistic 
doctrine  which  should  be  distinguished  as  "New  School 
Theology,"  they  will  find  none  so  likely  to  be  accepted 
as  such,  by  the  larger  number,  as  that  first  drawn  up 
by  Dr.  Baxter  Dickinson,  and  afterwards  formally 
adopted,  under  the  title  of  "  Errors  and  True  Doctrine," 
by  the  convention  at  Auburn,  in  1837,  of  which  Dr. 
James  Richards,  of  Auburn  was  the  President,  and 
nearly  two  hundi'ed  ministers  and  laymen,  the  very 
flower  of  the  New  School  body,  were  the  members. 
But,  in  truth,  there  is  no  such  phase  of  theology,  which 
either  the  body  as  a  whole,  or  its  theological  seminaries 
would  agree  to  distinguish  by  that  name.  They  take 
the  standards  of  the  Presl3yterian  Church  just  as  they 
are  —  the  Bible  as  "  the  only  infallible  iiile  of  faith  and 
practice,"  and  the  Confession  of  Faith  "  as  containing 
the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptui-es." 
Further  than  that,  they  give,  and  claim  fi-om  others  no 
pledges,  —  they  give  and  take  reasonable  liberty. 

The  task  assigned  to  the  -wiiter  of  this  chapter  is 
now  finished.     It  has  been  a  pleasant  task,  though  a 


mSTOEICAL    REVIEW    OF   TKE    CHUECH.  249 

laborious  and  painstaking  one.  As  lie  has  gone  from 
page  to  page  of  the  annals,  covering  a  period  of  more 
than  thii'ty  years,  memories  both  sad  and  animating 
have,  in  tm-n,  taken  possession  of  his  thoughts.  The 
New  School  Presbyterian  Chm^ch  need  not  be  ashamed 
of  its  history.  Noble  men  and  noble  deeds  stud  the 
line  of  its  fortunes.  It  has  met  fi'ankly  and  earnestly 
every  question  of  the  day,  as  affecting  the  moral  and 
religious  interests  of  man  and  the  cause  of  Chi'ist,  and 
pronounced  judgments  and  assumed  positions  which  it 
has  no  occasion  to  retract.  It  has  grappled  with  diffi- 
culties before  which  any  but  resolute,  courageous,  and 
believing  men  would  have  succumbed.  It  has  risen 
above  them.  The  conviction  is  deepened,  as  we  exam- 
ine its  records,  that  we  have  here  a  band  of  true,  trusty, 
intelligent,  well-grounded,  liberal  Presbyterian  Chris- 
tians, —  men  who  can  re-examine  and  test,  over  and 
over,  the  foundations  of  their  faith,  and  stand  only  the 
more  strongly  and  squarely  upon  them ;  eminently  cath- 
olic towards  all  Chiistian  denominations,  eminently  loyal 
to  their  own  chosen  standard.  The  contribution  which 
they  now  bring  to  the  United  Presybterian  Chm'ch,  in 
strength,  msdom,  activity,  and  resources,  is  one  worthy 
of  its  acceptance.  They  will  stand  by  it,  as  they  have 
hitherto  stood  by  theii'  own  particular  branch  of  it,  in 
the  spirit  of  a  true  self-devotion,  and  a  firm,  coui'age- 
ous  trust  in  the  divine  promises. 

And  now  the  long  and  troubled  drama  of  New  and 
Old  School  is  at  length  finished.  The  seal  is  on  the 
past,  and  the  future,  with  its  responsibilities,  opens 
before  us.  And  now,  forgetting  the  things  that  are  be- 
hind, all  the  grudges,  all  the  alienations  and  rivabies 


250 


PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


of  the  past,  and  reaching  forth  to  those  things  which 
are  before,  what  have  we,  but  to  press  towards  the 
mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ 
Jesus  ?  The  chui'ch  expects  of  us,  —  the  world  with  all 
its  soiTOWs  and  sins,  well  aware  that  the  true  church  is 
by  its  vocation  the  salt  of  the  earth  and  the  light  of 
the  world,  expects  of  us,  —  more  than  all,  the  Master 
himself  eirpects,  —  that  we,  thus  favored  in  the  happy 
healing  of  our  long-broken  unity,  should  now  unite  oui- 
force  in  one  harmonious,  resolute,  persevering  effort  for 
the  salvation  of  our  race  and  the  spread  of  the  benign 
piiiiciples  of  om*  Holy  Reugion. 


^"^lirn^^'h^rn^  ^^  €^1^^  ipd-rivf- — . 


vA^u^ft. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 
P^RT    I. 


The  father  of  Ashbel  Green  was  the  Rev.  Jacob 
Green,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Hanover, 
N.  J.,  and  his  mother  was  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Jolin 


252  PEESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Pierson,  of  Wooclbridge,  N.J.,  and  granddaughter  of 
the  fii'st  President  of  Yale  College.  He  (the  son) 
was  born  at  Hanover,  on  the  6th  of  July,  1762.  At 
a  very  early  age,  under  the  influence  of  his  father's 
loyalty,  he  enlisted  in  defence  of  his  country's  liberties ; 
and  in  one  instance  at  least,  at  the  attack  on  Elizabeth- 
town  Point,  his  life  was  in  imminent  jeopardy.  In 
consequence  of  the  associations  into  which  he  was 
brought,  during  the  period  of  the  Revolution,  he  became 
doubtful  in  respect  to  the  Di™e  authority  of  the 
Scriptures;  but  he  determined  not  to  sui-render  his 
faith  without  a  diligent  and  impartial  examination. 
The  result  of  such  an  examination  was  a  full  conviction 
that  the  Bible  is  the  word  of  God ;  and  that  con\'iction 
he  followed  out,  shortly  after,  by  entering,  with  gi'eat 
strength  of  purpose,  upon  the  I'eligious  life. 

His  aspirations  for  a  collegiate  education  were  early 
manifested,  and  his  prejiaration  for  college  was  begun 
and  comjDleted  under  the  instruction  of  his  father.  He 
entered  the  junior  class  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  in 
the  spring  of  1782,  and  graduated  the  next  year,  the 
Valedictory  Orator  of  his  class,  Greneral  Washington 
being  present  at  the  Commencement. 

He  was  appointed  to  a  tutorship  in  the  college,  im- 
mediately after  his  graduation ;  and,  having  held  that 
office  for  two  years,  was  advanced  to  the  chair  of  Pro- 
fessor of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy,  in 
which  he  continued  till  1787.  In  connection  Avith  his 
collegiate  duties,  he  prosecuted  the  study  of  Theology 
under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  then  President 
of  the  college,  and  Avas  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Brunswick,  in  February,  1786.     Shortly 


1 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  253 

after  his  licensure,  he  was  invited  to  become  the  pastor 
of  the  Independent  Chm^ch  in  Charleston,  S.C.,  and  at 
a  little  later  period  received  a  similar  invitation  from 
the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadelphia.  The 
latter  invitation  he  accepted,  and  was  installed  in  May, 
1787,  as  colleague  pastor  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sproat. 
The  same  year  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Ameri- 
can Philosophical  Society. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Green,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health, 
journeyed  into  New  England  as  far  as  Portsmouth,  N. 
H.,  mingling  in  many  interesting  scenes,  and  forming 
many  valuable  acquaintances.  In  1792,  he  was  honored 
mth  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,  when  he  had  been  but  six 
years  a  licensed  preacher;  and  the  same  year  he  was 
elected  Chaplain  to  Congress,  an  office  which  he  held 
during  eight  successive  years.  In  1793,  during  the 
prevalence  of  the  yellow  fever  in  Philadelphia,  he  left 
the  city,  vdth  a  view  to  visit  his  son  in  Princeton,  who, 
he  had  heard,  was  seriously  ill ;  and,  while  he  was  ab- 
sent, his  venerable  colleague  fell  a  victim  to  the  raging 
malady. 

In  the  course  of  the  next  winter,  the  Second  and 
Third  Presbyterian  churches,  of  Philadelphia,  united  in 
securing  the  services  of  the  Rev.  (afterwards  Dr.)  John 
N.  Abeel,  with  the  understandinsj  that  the  two  churches 
should  jointly  share  his  labors.  He  was,  accordingly, 
installed  as  colleague  pastor  with  Dr.  Green;  but, 
though  there  was  perfect  harmony  between  the  two 
pastors,  the  union  did  not  result  favorably,  and  was 
dissolved  in  1795,  when  Dr.  Abeel  removed  to  New 
York 


254  PRESBYTEKIAN    CnURCH. 

In  1799,  tlie  Rev.  (afterwards  Dr.)  Jacob  J.  Jane- 
way,  became  associated  ^vith  Dr.  Green  in  the  pastoral 
office,  and  tlie  relation  continued,  a  source  of  mutual 
comfort  and  blessing,  until  the  removal  of  the  latter  to 
another  field.  In  1799,  he  suffered  a  severe  chronic 
rheumatism,  the  effect  of  which  was  great  mental  de- 
pression, unfitting  him,  in  a  measure,  for  his  public 
duties.  In  the  hope  of  obtaining  the  desired  relief,  he 
visited  the  Warm  and  Sweet  Springs  of  Virginia,  and 
in  the  course  of  his  joui'uey,  made  the  acquaintance  of 
some  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  that  part  of  the 
country.  Though  the  journey  proved  physically  salu- 
tary, it  did  not  avail  to  the  restoration  of  his  spirits ; 
and  it  was  nearly  two  years  before  his  faculties  were 
all  in  their  full  operation. 

After  the  burning  of  the  edifice  of  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  in  March  1802,  Dr.  Smith,  the  President 
of  the  college,  was  requested,  by  the  trustees,  to  visit 
South  Carolina,  to  solicit  aid  in  repairing  the  loss  which 
had  been  sustained.  This  he  actually  did;  and  the 
oversight  of  the  college,  meanwhile,  was  committed  to 
Dr.  Green,  who  discharged  the  various  duties,  thus  de- 
volved upon  him,  with  great  fidelity  and  dignity. 

In  1809  was  formed  in  Philadelphia  the  fii-st  Bible 
Society  in  the  United  States.  An  Addi-ess  to  the 
public,  setting  forth  the  design  and  importance  of  the 
institution,  was  ^vl'itten  by  Dr.  Green,  and  did  much  to 
l)rcpare  the  way  for  other  institutions  of  a  similar  na- 
ture. Dr.  Green  succeeded  Bishop  White,  as  the  presi- 
dent of  that  society,  and  held  the  oflice  till  the  close  of 
his  life. 

In  1810,  a  resolution  to  establish  a  Theological  Semi- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  255 

nary  was  adopted  by  tlie  General  Assembly,  and  Dr. 
Green  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  to 
draft  a  constitution ;  and,  in  the  discharge  of  this  duty, 
he  produced  a  document  that  has  had  an  immensely  im- 
portant bearing  on  the  interests  of  the  Chui'ch.  When 
the  Board  of  Directors  for  the  seminary  was  appointed, 
in  1812,  they  elected  Dr.  Green  as  their  president,  and 
this  office  also  he  retained  as  long  as  he  lived,  render- 
ing it  a  channel  of  rich  blessing  to  the  institution. 

In  August,  1812,  he  was  chosen  President  of  the 
College  of  New  Jersey ;  and,  having  accepted  the  ap- 
pointment, was  released  from  his  pastoral  charge,  and 
was  introduced  to  his  new  field  of  labor  in  October  fol- 
lowing. The  same  year  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws 
was  conferred  upon  him,  by  the  University  of  North 
Carolina.  In  1815,  an  extensive  revival  of  religion 
prevailed  in  the  college,  which  resulted  in  the  hopeful 
conversion  of  a  large  number  of  the  students.  Dr. 
Green  labored  vigorously  and  earnestly,  in  carrying  for- 
ward this  woi'k ;  and,  after  the  excitement  had  ceased, 
he  made  a  long  and  able  report  of  what  had  been  pass- 
ing, to  the  trustees,  which  was  afterwards  published,  and 
had  a  wide  circulation. 

Dr.  Green  continued  to  occupy  the  presidential  chair 
till  September,  1822,  when  he  thought  proper  to  resign 
his  office.  Though  it  was  chiefly  with  a  view  to  being 
I'elieved  from  the  burden  of  care  which  had  so  long  op- 
pressed him,  that  he  was  induced  to  take  this  step,  yet 
he  passed  immediately  into  another  field  of  labor,  where 
his  faculties  were  scarcely  less  tasked  than  they  had 
been  in  the  preceding  one.  He  immediately  returned 
to  Philadelphia,  and  became  the  editor  of  the  Christian 


256  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Admocate^  a  montlily  periodical,  and  continued  it  till 
1834.  In  this  work  first  appeared  his  Lectm-es  on  the 
Assembly's  Catechism,  delivered  at  Philadelphia,  both 
before  he  went  to  Princeton  and  after  his  return ;  and 
they  were  subsequently  published  in  two  duodecimo 
volumes.  For  about  two  years  and  a  half  he  preached 
to  the  African  congregation,  and  was  always  on  the 
alert  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  Church  by 
every  means  in  his  power.  Duiing  several  of  his  last 
years  his  faculties  were  perceptibly  waning,  and  most 
of  his  time  was  spent  in  private  devotion.  While  the 
General  Assembly  was  in  session  in  Philadelphia,  in 
1846,  he  unexpectedly  appeared  for  a  few  minutes 
among  them,  and  was  met  with  the  highest  testimonies 
of  respect  and  reverence.  He  died  in  the  midst  of  a 
large  circle  of  friends,  to  whom  he  was  greatly  en- 
deared, on  the  19th  of  May,  1848,  aged  nearly  eighty- 
six  years.  His  remains  were  removed  to  Princeton, 
where  his  monument  is  now  to  be  seen,  amidst  a  cluster 
of  illustrious  names,  such  as  is  hardly  to  be  found  else- 
where. 

In  November,  1785,  about  the  time  that  he  entered 
on  his  professorship,  he  was  married  to  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Eobei-t  Stockton,  of  Princeton.  She  died 
in  1807,  leaving  three  childi'en,  —  all  of  them  sons.  In 
October,  1809,  he  was  married  to  Christiana  Anderson, 
the  eldest  daughter  of  Colonel  Alexander  Anderson. 
She  died  in  1814,  after  a  connection  of  a  little  less 
than  four  years  and  a  half.  In  October,  1815,  he  was 
married  (for  the  third  time)  to  a  daughter  of  Major 
John  McCulloch,  of  Philadelphia.  She  died,  after  a 
somewhat  lingering  illness,  in  November,  1617.     His 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  257 

tlii'ee  wives  were  all  ladies  of  excellent  character,  who 
did  honor  to  the  position  which  they  occupied. 

Besides  the  two  volumes  of  Lectures  on  the  Assem- 
bly's Catechism,  already  referred  to.  Dr.  Green  pub- 
lished, in  1822,  an  elaborate  History  of  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  in  connection  mth  a  series  of  his  Bacca- 
laureate Discourses.  He  published,  also,  a  History  of 
Presbyterian  Missions,  and  about  twenty  occasional 
Sermons  and  Addresses  in  pamphlet  form. 

Dr.  Green  was  of  about  the  medium  height,  with 
prominent  features,  a  dark,  piercing  eye,  and  an  expres- 
sion of  countenance  highly  intellectual.  His  manners 
were  dignified,  sometimes  approaching  even  to  stern- 
ness, l3ut  he  knew  how  to  unbend  in  free  and  cordial 
intercourse.  His  mind  was  comprehensive,  logical,  aud 
highly  cultivated ;  indeed,  he  seemed  at  home  in  almost 
every  accessible  field  of  knowledge.  Though  he  some- 
times appeared  distant,  and  may  have  been  thought  to 
lack  the  genial  element,  it  needed  only  a  change  of 
circumstances  to  show  that  his  heart  was  overflowing 
with  kindness.  As  a  Preacher,  he  was  highly  evangeli- 
cal, lucid,  impressive,  while  his  manner  had,  perhaps, 
more  of  the  commanding  than  the  graceful  and  attrac- 
tive. As  the  Head  of  a  college,  he  commanded  the  ut- 
most respect,  while  he  was  always  intent  on  the  moral 
as  well  as  intellectual  imj^rovement  of  those  committed 
to  his  care.  As  a  ministei'  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
the  General  Asseml^ly  testified  their  high  sense  of  his 
merits  by  making  him  their  Moderator;  and  it  may 
safely  be  said  that  he  has  left  behind  him  a  bright  and 
enduring  record. 

17 


258  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


ARCHIBALD  ALEXiVNDER,  D.D. 


ARCHrB^\jLD  Alexander  "was  a  son  of  William  Alex- 
Ander,  a  person  of  great  worth  and  respectability,  and 
was  born  near  Lexington,  Eockbridge  County,  Va.,  on 
the  I7th  of  April,  1772.  While  he  was  pursuing  his 
studies  at  Liberty  Hall  Academy  (now  Washington 
College),  in  1789,  he  accompanied  his  instructor,  the 
Rev.  William  Graham,  to  Prince  Edward,  to  attend  a 
communion  in  the  Briery  congregation.  This  brought 
him  into  the  midst  of  a  revival  of  religion,  of  which  he 
became,  as  he  believed,  one  of  the  subjects.  He  made  a 
public  profession  of  his  faith  in  the  autumn  of  the  same 
year,  and  shortly  after  commenced  the  study  of  theol- 
ogy, under  the  dii-ection  of  Mr.  Graham.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach,  by  the  Lexington  Presbytery,  in 
1791,  when  he  was  but  nineteen  years  of  age. 

In  1792,  he  was  occupied  in  missionary  labor  about  six 
months,  partly  in  Virginia  and  partly  in  North  Caro- 
lina. After  having  served  six  different  chui'ches,  in  con- 
nection -with  the  Kev.  Druiy  Lacy,  for  some  time,  he 
took  charge  of  the  churches  of  Bi'iery  and  Cub  Creek. 
He  was  ordained  at  Briery,  in  November,  1794,  and  was 
dismissed  from  Cub  Creek  in  April,  1797,  and  from 
Brieiy  in  November,  1798.  In  1796,  he  became  succes- 
sor to  the  Rev.  Drmy  Lac}^,  as  President  of  Hampden 
Sydney  College.  The  same  year  he  went  as  a  delegate 
to  the  General  Assembly,  at  Philadelphia,  and  such  was 
his  popularity  as  a  preacher,  that  the  Pine  Street  Pres 
byterian  Clnirch,  then  vacant,  imdted  him  to  become 
theu  pastor.  About  the  year  1797,  he  came  to  have 
serious  doubts  in  respect  to  the  divine  authority  of  in- 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  259 

faut  baptism,  and  for  a  year  or  two  discontinued  tlie 
administration  of  the  ordinance  to  infants;  but  liis 
scruples  were  ultimately  removed,  and  lie  returned  to 
his  former  practice.  In  1801,  he  was  sent  a  second 
time  to  the  General  Assembly,  and  accepted  the  ap- 
pointment of  delegate  to  the  General  Associations  of 
Connecticut  and  New  Hampshire ;  and,  until  within  a 
few  years,  there  were  those  living  who  heard  him  there, 
and  could  never  forget  his  thrilling  eloquence.  On  his 
return  he  preached  in  Baltimore,  and  afterwards  re- 
ceived a  call  to  settle  there,  as  successor  to  the  Kev.  Dr. 
Allison,  but  declined  it. 

In  1806,  he  received  a  second  call  fi-om  the  Pine 
Street  Church,  Philadelphia,  which,  chiefly  on  account 
of  his  too  onerous  duties  in  connection  with  the  college, 
he  accepted.  He  was  installed  as  pastor  of  that  church, 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1807.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  Moderator  of  the  General  As- 
sembly. In  1810,  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  In 
1812,  the  General  Assembly  having  determined  to  estab- 
lish a  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  Dr.  Alexander 
was  chosen  to  the  Professorship  of  Didactic  and  Po- 
lemic Theology.  After  considerable  deliberation,  he  ac- 
cepted the  apj^ointment,  and  was  inaugurated  in  August 
follomng.  Here  he  continued  in  the  constant  and  labo- 
rious discharge  of  his  duties  till  near  the  close  of  life. 
His  last  illness  was  dysenteiy,  and  was  of  about  a 
month's  duration.  In  the  prospect  of  his  departure, 
he  was  lifted  above  all  doubt  and  fear,  and  had  the 
fullest  confidence  that  the  change  before  him  would  be 
a  blessed  one.     He  died  on  the  22d  of  October,  1851. 


2G0  PRESBYTEIIIAN    CHURCH. 

The  Synod  of  New  Jersey,  which  was  in  session  at 
Princeton  at  the  time,  attended  his  funeral  on  the  24th, 
and  a  sermon  was  preached  on  the  occasion  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  John  McDow^ell. 

Dr.  Alexander  was  married  in  April,  1802,  to  Jan- 
etta,  daughter  of  the  Eev.  James  Waddel,  D.D.,  of  the 
county  of  Louisa,  Va.  JNIrs.  Alexander  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1852.  They  had  seven  children,  who  survived 
them,  —  six  sons  and  one  daughter.  Of  the  sons,  three 
became  ministers  of  the  gospel,  two  la^vyers,  and  one  a 
physician. 

Besides  numerous  Tracts  and  Sermons  in  pamphlet 
form.  Dr.  Alexander  published  the  f ollomng :  A  Brief 
Outline  of  the  E\ddences  of  the  Christian  Religion, 
1825 ;  The  Canon  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  as- 
certained, or  the  Bible  complete  without  the  Apocrypha 
and  Unwritten  Traditions,  1826  ;  A  Selection  of  Hymns 
adapted  to  the  Devotions  of  the  Closet,  the  Family,  and 
the  Social  Circle,  and  containing  subjects  appropriate 
to  the  monthly  concerts  of  Prayer  for  the  Success  of 
Missions  and  Sunday  Schools,  1831 ;  The  Lives  of  the 
Patriarchs,  published  by  the  American  Sunday-School 
Union,  1835 ;  History  of  Israel ;  Biograpliical  Sketches  of 
the  Founders  and  Principal  Alumni  of  the  Log  College, 
together  with  an  account  of  the  Re^4vals  of  Religion 
under  their  ministry,  1845 ;  A  History  of  Colonization 
on  tlie  Western  Coast  of  Afi'ica,  1846 ;  A  History  of  the 
Israelitish  Nation  from  their  Origin  to  their  Dispersion 
at  the  Destniction  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Romans,  1852'; 
Outlines  of  ]\Ioral  Science,  1852. 

Tlie  f  olloA\dng  were  issued  by  the  Presbyterian  Board 
of  Pul^lication :  Practical  Sermons,  to  be  read  in  Fami- 


EIOGRAPinCAL    SKETCHES.  261 

lies  and  Social  Meetings ;  Letters  to  tlie  Aged ;  Coun- 
sels of  tlie  Aged  to  the  Young ;  Universalism  False  and 
Unscriptural ;  A  Brief  Compend  of  Bible  Truth ;  Divine 
Guidance,  or  the  People  of  God  led  in  unknown  Ways ; 
Thoughts  on  Religious  Experience ;  The  Way  of  Salva- 
tion familiarly  explained  in  a  conversation  between  a 
Father  and  his  Children.  He  published  also  an  abridge- 
ment of  the  Life  of  Richard  Baxter,  of  Andrew  Mel- 
ville, and  of  John  Knox. 

Dr.  Alexander  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable men  whose  names  appear  in  the  history  of  the 
American  Church.  His  coun- 
tenance, especially  when  he 
was  engaged  in  animated  con- 
versation, betokened  the  work- 
ings of  a  mind  of  the  highest 
order.  Lie  had  subjected  him- 
self to  a  most  thorough  disci- 
pline, so  that  he  had  full  com- 
mand   of    all    his    admii'able 

powers.  His     manners      were  Rev.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander. 

most  simple;  he  could  not  take  on  airs  or  make 
equivocal  demonstrations ;  no  one  could  resist  the 
impression  that  his  heart  was  in  utterance  and  ac- 
tion. Whether  he  was  called  to  solve  some  difficult 
problem  in  philosophy  or  morals,  or  to  explore 
the  depths  of  some  darkened  and  bewildered  spiiit  by 
the  light  of  revelation,  he  always  seemed  ready  for  the 
exigency.  As  a  Preacher,  it  may  safely  be  said  that 
he  held  the  very  highest  rank.  So  thoroughly  conver- 
sant was  he  with  every  part  of  Scripture,  and  such  per- 
fect command  had  he  of  thought  and  language,  that  it 


262  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

was  quite  safe  for  liim  to  preach  without  much  pre- 
meditation, and  some  of  his  most  effective  sermons  are 
said  to  have  been  wrought  out  almost  entirely  in  the 
process  of  delivery ;  while  yet  his  ordinary  mode  of 
preaching  was  to  study  his  subject  carefully  before- 
hand, and  ti-ust  to  the  prompting  of  his  feelings  at  the 
moment  for  the  language.  As  a  Writer,  his  leading 
characteristics  were  perspicuity,  naturalness,  and  adap- 
tation. No  matter  how  abstruse  might  be  the  subject 
upon  which  he  was  ^vriting,  his  thoughts  were  always 
du-ect  and  clear  and  apposite;  and  he  never  took  a 
step  beyond  the  legitimate  boundary  of  human  knowl- 
edge. As  a  Professor  in  the  theological  seminary,  he 
discharged  every  duty,  not  only  with  signal  ability^ 
but  with  great  punctuality  and  fidelity.  His  lectui-ea 
were  generally  ^vl'itten ;  and  they  were  always  luminous, 
and,  to  every  thoughtful  student,  in  a  high  degree  attrac- 
tive. The  pai-t  which  he  bore  in  the  Sunday  afternoon 
conference,  taking  on  the  form  of  a  familiar  talk  on  some 
subject  of  great  practical  interest,  was  always  most  ed- 
ifying ;  and  every  one  who  had  listened  Avas  sure  to 
carry  away  with  him  thoughts  foi'  both  his  intellectual 
and  moral  powers  to  digest.  In  his  more  private  inter- 
com-se  with  the  students,  he  was  perfectly  fi'ee  and  com- 
municative, always  ready  Avith  the  most  fitting  word  of 
instruction,  of  counsel,  or,  as  the  case  might  be,  of  ad- 
monition. In  Chm-ch  Courts  lie  never  spoke  imless  there 
was  manifest  occasion ;  l^ut  when  he  did  speak,  he  nevei* 
failed  to  command  profound  attention,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  the  mists  Avliich  had  been  accimiulated  by  a 
long  discussion,  were  all  swept  away  by  a  few  of  his 
direct  and  luminous  remarks.     That  A\'hich  formed  the 


BIOGEAPHIOAL    SKETCHES.  263 

glory  of  liis  whole  character  was  his  deep,  simple,  unob- 
trusive piety.  It  was  impossible  to  notice  his  move- 
ments in  any  of  his  relations,  without  perceiving  that 
he  walked  closely  with  God.  The  actings  of  the  prin- 
ciple of  spiritual  life  were  manifest  in  his  whole  deport- 
ment ;  and  those  who  knew  most  of  his  religious  habits 
as  well  as  those  who  only  mtnessed  his  daily  conduct, 
could  bear  testimony  that  he  always  seemed  in  com- 
munion with  the  fountain  of  all  grace  and  purity.  His 
death  was  worthy  of  his  life,  —  full  of  peaceful  and 
joyful  anticipation. 

Dr.  Alexander  had  two  sons,  now  passed  away,  who 
were  every  way  woi'thy  of  their  parentage,  and  who 
are  justly  entitled  to  a  much  more  extended  notice  than 
it  is  possible  here  to  give  them. 

The  first  is  Dr.  James  Waddel  Alexander.  He 
was  born  in  Louisa  County,  Va.,  on  the  13th  of  March, 
1804.  He  was  graduated  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey, 
in  1820,  and  was  appointed  tutor  in  the  same  institu- 
tion, in  1824,  but  vacated  the  place  the  next  year.  He 
became  a  student  in  the  Theological  Seminaiy  at  Prince- 
ton, in  1822,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  Brunswick,  in  October,  1825.  In  March, 
1826,  he  preached  for  the  first  time  to  the  church  at 
Charlotte  Court-House,  Va.,  and  was  installed  as  its 
pastor,  in  March,  1827.  He  resigned  his  charge  here  at 
the  close  of  1828,  and  accepted  a  call  from  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  and  was  consti- 
tuted its  pastor  in  February,  1829.  About  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year  1830,  he  became  tlie  editor  of  the 
Biblical  MeiJertory.  In  October,  1832,  he  was  dis- 
missed from  the  chai'ge  of  his  church  in  Trenton,  and 


264  PRESBYTERIAN   CnURCH. 

in  January  following  became  editor  of  tlie  Preshy- 
terian^  and  continued  to  hold  this  place  until  the  close 
of  the  volume  for  1833.  In  the  course  of  that  year  he 
left  Philadelphia  for  Princeton,  having  accepted  the 
Professorship  of  Rhetoric  and  Belles-Lettres  in  the  Col- 
lege of  New  Jersey.  This  office  he  held  until  1844, 
when  he  became  pastor  of  the  Duane  Street  Presby- 
terian Chui'ch  in  New  York.  In  1849  he  resigned  this 
charge,  and  accepted  the  Professorship  of  Ecclesiastical 
History  and  Church  Government,  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Princeton.  Here  he  remained  two  years, 
and  in  1851,  accepted  a  call  to  become  pastor  of  the 
Fifth  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church  in  New  York,  the 
same  with  which  he  had  been  formerly  connected  in 
Duane  Street,  and  retained  this  place  till  his  death. 
He  died  of  dysentery,  at  the  Red  Sweet  Springs,  Va. 
Cwhither  he  had  gone  for  the  benefit  of  his  health),  on 
the  31st  of  July,  1859.  His  dying  utterances  left  no 
doubt  that  he  was  in  communion  mth  the  ResuiTection 
and  the  Life. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  E.  C.  Cabell,  of  Virginia, 
and  had  several  children,  one  of  whom,  the  Rev.  Henry 
C.  Alexander,  after  having  had  charge  of  the  same 
church  in  which  his  father  exercised  his  pastorate  at 
Charlotte  Court-House,  has  been  transferred  to  the 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  Va.,  as  Professor  of  New 
Testament  Gi-eek. 

Dr.  J.  AV.  iUexander  was  a  voluminous  wiiter.  Be- 
sides numerous  contributions  to  periodicals,  he  pub- 
lished the  American  Mechanic  and  Worldngman ;  Gift 
to  the  Afflicted ;  Geography  of  the  Bible ;  Thoughts 
on  Family  Worship  ;  Consolation,  or  Discourses  to  the 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES. 


2G5 


Suffering  Cliildi-en  of  God ;  Life  of  Arcliibald  Alexan- 
der,  D.D. ;  Plain  Words  to  Young  Communicants ;  and 
upwards  of  tliii'ty  volumes  for  children,  j)ublislied  by 
the  American  Simday  School  Union.  Since  his  death, 
there  have  been  published  several  volumes  of  his  Ser- 
mons, together  with  Forty  Years'  Correspondence  with 
Dr.  Hall  of  Trenton. 

Dr.  James  W.  Alexander  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the 
most  gifted  and  accomplished  men  of  his  day.  His 
faculties  were  developed  in  great  harmony,  forming  a 
character  at  once  attractive 
and  efficient.  In  the  pulpit 
he  was  a  model  of  simplicity, 
while  he  was  not  less  distin- 
guished for  original  thought 
and  evangelical  earnestness. 
A  bold  adherent  of  the  truths 
of  the  Gospel,  he  welcomed  in 
cordial  fellowship  all  ^vho 
bore  the  Saviour's  image.  Re%.  ur  jim,  w  v  xamur. 
Thoughtful  and  generous,  he  could  pour  forth  a 
torrent  of  good  humor.  His  writings  will  represent 
him  most  advantageously  to  the  coming  genera- 
tions. 

Dr.  Afchibald  Alexander's  third  son,  was  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Joseph  Addison"  Alexander,  who  has  also  left  a 
s])lendid  mark  behind  him.  He  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia, in  1809 ;  developed  early  a  wonderful  power  of 
acquiiing  language ;  and  was  graduated  at  the  College 
of  New  Jersey  in  1826,  with  the  highest  honors  of  his 
class.  He  was  elected  tutor  soon  after  his  graduation, 
but  declined  the  appointment,  and  joined  with  another 


266 


PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 


person  iu  establishing  the  Princeton  Edgehill  School. 
He  studied  theology  under  the  direction  of  the  pro- 
fessors at  Princeton,  though  he  was  never  matriculated 
as  a  student  of  the  Seminary.  In  July,  1830,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Adjunct  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages  and 
Literatui'e  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  He  accepted 
the  appointment,  and  held  the  place  until  the  spring  of 
1833,  when  he  resigned  it,  and  left  for  Eui'ope.  He 
spent  some  time  at  the  Universities  of  Halle  and 
Berlin,  and  returned  to  this  country  in  1834.  While 
in  Europe,  he  was  offered  the  Adjunct  Professorship  of 
Oriental  Languages  and  Literature  in  the  Princeton 
Seminary;  and  on  his  retui'n  in  1834,  he  acted  as  as- 
sistant to  Dr.  Hodge,  and  in  May,  1836,  was  elected  to 
the  Professorship  of  Oriental  Litei'atui-e,  which  he  did 
not  formally  accept  until  May,  1838,  although  he  was 
actually  fulfilling  the  duties  of  the  chaii'.  In  1836,  he 
was  elected  to  the  same  chair  in  the  Union  Theological 
Seminary,  New  York,  but  declined  the  appointment. 
In  1851,  he  was  transferred  to  the  chaii*  of  Biblical  and 
Ecclesiastical  History ;  and,  in  1859,  at  his  own  request, 
the  department  of  Hebraistic  Greek  and  New  Testa- 
ment Literature  was  assi^i^ned  to  him.  The  deo-ree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by  both 
Marshall  College  and  Rutgers  College.  He  died  in 
great  peace  on  the  27th  of  January,  1860. 

Dr.  J.  Addison  Alexander  published  the  follo^nng 
works :  Commentary  on  Isaiah,  2  vols. ;  Exegetical  Es- 
says ;  Commentary  on  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles ;  The 
Psalms  Translated  and  Explained;  and  Commentary 
on  Mark.  Since  his  death,  there  have  been  published, 
under  the  supervision  of   his  brother.  Rev.  Dr.  S.  D. 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  267 

Alexander,  An  unfinished  Commentary  on  Matthew; 
Two  volumes  of  Sermons,  and  Notes  on  New  Testament 
Literature  and  on  Ecclesiastical  History. 

Dr.  J.  Addison  Alexander  was  remarkable,  not  only 
for  his  extraordinary  facility  of  acquiring  language, 
and  the  great  number  of  languages  that  he  thoroughly 
mastered,  but  for  his  wonderful  skill  in  the  use  of  his 
own  language,  whether  in  the  pulpit  or  the  lecture- 
room.  One  of  his  fellow-professors,  than  whom  there 
is  no  more  competent  judge,  has  expressed  the  opinion 
that  he  has  never  met  with  a  man  in  this  country  or  in 
Em'023e,  who  was  Dr.  Alexander's  superior,  in  respect 
to  the  power  of  his  intellect  or  the  extent  of  his  learn- 
ing. He  was  not  altogether  without  the  eccentricities 
of  genius ;  and  though  there  were  those  with  whom  he 
could  be  communicative  and  playful,  yet  in  other  cii'cles 
he  would  maintain  an  almost  absolute  silence.  He  was 
remarkable  for  his  love  of  little  childi'en,  and  his  efforts 
to  gratify  them ;  but  when  they  had  passed  a  certain 
period,  they  were  obliged  to  give  place  in  his  regards  to 
those  who  came  after  them.  All  who  have  listened  to 
his  impressive  eloquence  in  the  pulpit,  or  to  his  pro- 
foundly critical  teachings  in  the  lecture-room,  think  of 
him  with  admiration. 

SAMUEL  MILLER,  D.D. 

Samuel  Miller,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  John  and  Margaret 
(Millington)  Miller,  was  born  at  the  residence  of  his 
parents,  near  Dover,  Del,  on  the  31st  of  October,  1769. 
After  having  passed  his  early  years  at  home,  and  been 
fitted  for  college  under  the  instruction  of  his  father,  he 
became  a  member  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 


268  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

where  lie  maintained  a  liigli  rank,  and  graduated  in 
1789.  He  entered  almost  immediately  on  tlie  study  of 
Theology,  under  the  direction  of  his  father,  and  wa 
licensed  to  i^reach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Lewes,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1791.  After  his  licensure,  he  continued  his  studies, 
under  Dr.  Nisbet,  President  of  Dickinson  College,  and 
one  of  the  most  learned  theologians  of  his  day. 

After  declining  an  invitation  to  become  his  father's 
successor  at  Dover,  he  preached  to  great  acceptance  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1792,  re- 
ceived a  unanimous  call  from  the  United  Presbyterian 
Churches  in  that  city,  to  become  a  colleague  of  Dr. 
Kodgers  and  Dr.  McKnight.  Though  the  call  was  en- 
tirely unexpected,  he  accepted  it,  and  was  ordained  and 
installed  in  June,  1793. 

His  settlement  in  New  York  brought  him  within 
the  immediate  range  of  several  of  the  ablest  and  most 
widely  kno^vn  ministers  of  the  day ;  and  yet  his  well- 
balanced  and  highly  cultivated  mind,  his  bland  and  at- 
tractive manner,  and  the  graceful  facility  with  ^vhicli  he 
moved  about  in  the  different  circles  of  social  life,  soon 
gave  him  a  position  among  the  most  prominent  of  his 
brethren.  He  was  invited  to  preach  on  various  occa- 
sions of  great  public  interest,  and  several  of  these  dis- 
courses were  printed,  and  attracted  much  attention. 
His  sermon  preached  at  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century,  became  the  nucleus  of  a  work,  published  in 
1803,  in  two  volumes,  and  entitled  "A  Brief  Retrospect 
of  the  Eighteenth  Century."  This  Avork  is  marked  by 
great  ability,  and  has  commanded  miKih  attention  on 
both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 

In  1804,  he  was  honored  vith  the  degree  of  Doctor 


BIOGKAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  269 

of  Divinity  from  tlie  University  at  wliicli  he  graduated. 
In  1806,  lie  was  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  1811,  Dr.  Eodgers,  who 
had  been  united  with  him  in  the  pastorate  nearly  twenty 
years,  was  removed  by  death ;  and,  two  years  after,  his 
Biography,  wi'itten  by  Dr.  Miller,  appeared,  in  an  oc- 
tavo volume,  full  of  interesting  details  of  the  History 
of  the  American  Presbyterian  Church.  In  1813,  he  was 
elected  to  the  chair  of  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Church 
Government  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton. 
This  appointment  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  accept, 
though,  in  doing  so,  he  had  to  abandon  a  field  of  useful- 
ness, which  had  become  endeared  to  him  by  many  sa- 
cred associations. 

Here  Dr.  Miller  continued,  accomplishing  a  work  of 
the  highest  interest  to  the  Church,  during  the  period  of 
thirty-six  years.  Besides  attending  to  his  stated  duties 
in  the  Seminary  mth  great  fidelity,  he  performed  a  large 
amount  of  literary  labor,  the  results  of  Avhich  are  now 
in  the  possession  of  the  Church,  and  will  form  a  rich 
legacy  to  posterity. 

After  tendering  the  resignation  of  his  ofiice  to  the 
General  Assembly,  which  was  accej)ted  with  the  warm- 
est expressions  of  respect  and  gratitude,  in  T*Iay,  1849, 
his  health,  which  had  been  waning  for  some  time,  be- 
came more  and  more  feeble,  until  his  ability  for  all 
active  exertion  was  gone.  He  lingered  in  this  condition 
several  weeks,  fully  aware  that  the  time  of  his  dej)arture 
had  nearly  come,  but  in  the  possession  of  a  trimnphant 
faith,  that  not  only  cast  out  all  fear,  but  seemed  to 
bring  Heaven  down  to  earth.  He  died  on  the  7th  of 
January,  1850,  and  an  appropriate  commemorative  dis- 


210  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

course  was  preaclied  at  his  funeral,  by  liis  venerable 
coEeague,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander. 

Dr.  Miller  was  married,  in  the  autumn  of  1801,  to 
Sarah,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Jonathan  Dickinson  Ser- 
geant, a  distinguished  la-svyer  and  member  of  Congress, 
of  Philadelphia.  They  had  ten  children,  but  only  six 
survived  him.  One  of  his  daughtei's  was  married  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Breckinridge,  and  another  to  the  Hon. 
John  F.  Hageman,  of  Princeton.  Of  the  sons,  two  be- 
came ministers  of  the  gospel,  one  a  «urgeon  in  the  navy, 
and  one  a  lawyer,  practising  in  Philadelphia. 

Dr.  Miller  was  one  of  the  most  voluminous  writers 
which  our  Presbyterian  Church  has  ever  produced. 
Beside  the  works  already  mentioned,  he  published  more 
than  a  dozen  volumes  on  various  subjects,  and  upwards 
of  forty  pamphlets,  containing  sermons  and  addresses. 
Several  of  his  works  are  controversial,  two  of  them  be- 
ing devoted  to  a  vindication  of  Presbyterianism  against 
the  claims  of  Episco]~>acy.  His  controversial  writings 
are  clear,  fair,  eai-uesi,  and  marked  by  uncommon  abil- 
ity. 

It  has  already  been  intimated  that  Dr;  Miller  pos- 
sessed a  large  measure  of  personal  attraction.  He  was 
of  about  the  middle  size,  and  had  a  face  expressive  at 
once  of  high  intelligence,  and  of  all  that  was  gentle  and 
Idndly  and  genial.  There  was  a  sort  of  graceful  for- 
mality about  his  movements,  but  nothing  to  create  re- 
serve or  embarrassment.  His  mind  was  remarkable  for 
the  admirable  proportion  in  which  its  faculties  existed ; 
all  acting  in  peif ect  symmetry,  and  therefore  with  great 
power.  His  heart  was  full  of  benevolence  and  generos- 
ity, and  no  one  knew  better  than  he  how  to  render  good 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  271 

for  evil.  His  presence  in  the  social  cii'cle  was  always 
met  with  a  cordial  welcome,  and  always  diffused  an  air 
of  cheerfulness,  while  yet  not  a  word  fell  from  his  lips 
that  was  not  consistent  mth  the  dignity  of  a  minister 
of  the  Gospel.  As  a  Preacher,  he  was  justly  regarded 
as  among  the  more  eminent  of  his  day.  His  sermons 
were  wi'itten  mth  great  care,  and  so  simple  and  logical 
in  their  arrangement  as  easily  to  be  remembered,  while 
yet  they  were  uncommonly  rich  in  evangelical  truth,  and 
were  delivered  with  a  simplicity  and  unction,  well  fitted 
to  impress  them  on  the  mind  and  heart.  As  a  Pastor, 
he  was  always  ready  to  meet  the  needs  of  his  people, 
and  he  moved  about  among  them  so  kindly  and  ten- 
derly, that  they  could  almost  forget  that  he  was  not  a 
father  or  a  brother.  As  a  Professor  in  the  Theological 
Seminary,  he  was  always  punctual  in  the  observance  of 
every  duty,  delivered  luminous  and  well-digested  lec- 
tures, treated  the  students  with  marked  attention  and 
respect,  and  was  a  model  in  everything  pertaining  to  so- 
cial manners  and  habits.  As  a  member  of  Ecclesiastical 
Courts,  he  was  watchful,  firm,  and  yet  condescending;  he 
would  not  tolerate  what  he  believed  to  be  gross  error, 
while  yet  he  would  not  make  a  man  an  offender  for  a 
word.  He  was  strongly  attached  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  regarding  it  as  more  strictly  conformed  to  the 
scriptm^al  standard  than  any  other ;  but  he  was  ready 
to  open  his  arms  and  his  heart  to  all  whom  he  recog- 
nized as  holding  the  fundamental  truths  of  the  Gospel. 
He  was  an  earnest  and  a  resolute  patriot,  and  possibly, 
at  one  time,  sympathized  more  deeply  in  the  political 
movements  of  the  day  than  was  most  conducive  to  his 
usefulness  as  a  Chiistian  minister ;  but,  during  his  latter 


272  PRESBYTERIAN^   CHUKCK. 

years,  especially,  his  patriotism  never  took  on  a  parti- 
san aspect.  His  life  was  a  blessed  testimony  to  the 
power  of  the  truth,  and  a  freewill  offering  to  the  gloiy 
of  God  and  the  great  interests  of  humanity. 

ELrPHALET  NOTT,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

Eliphalet  Nott,  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Deborah 
Nott,  was  born  at  Ashford,  Conn.,  June  25th,  1773. 
His  parents,  who  were  persons  of  great  moral  worth, 
had  previously  lived  in  Saybrook,  but,  in  consequence 
of  the  bui-ning  of  their  house,  their  circumstances 
became  straitened,  and  they  removed  to  Ashford  in 
the  hope  of  improving  them.  Ha^ang  one  of  the 
best  of  mothers,  this  son  began  very  early  to  be  in- 
structed in  the  truths  of  religion,  and  at  the  age  of  f our 
years  he  had  read  through  the  Bible,  and  committed 
considerable  portions  of  it  to  memory.  His  youthful 
days  he  passed  principally  in  laboring  with  his  father 
on  the  farm ;  but  his  thirst  for  knowledge  was  insatia- 
ble, and,  under  his  mother's  dii'ection,  he  was  constantly 
adding  to  his  acquisitions  fi^om  every  source  within  his 
reach.  He  passed  two  winters  in  his  youth  with  two 
of  his  sisters,  living  in  different  places,  and  spent  a 
short  time  with  liis  brother,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Nott,  of 
Franklin.  At  one  time  he  Avas  strongly  inclined  to  be- 
come a  i^hysician,  and  was  actually  taking  the  incipient 
steps  towards  the  medical  profession;  but  a  severe 
surgical  operation,  at  which  he  was  present,  proved  an 
ovei-match  for  his  nervous  system,  and  gave  a  different 
direction  to  his  life. 

After  the  death  of  his  mother,  which  occui'red  in  Oc- 
tober, 1788,  he  returned  to  Franldin,  the  residence  of 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  273 

his  brother,  who  had  been  settled  there  a  few  years  in 
the  ministry.  For  two  or  three  years  he  worked  on  his 
brother's  farm  during  the  summer,  and  in  the  mnter 
taught  a  district  school,  and  prosecuted  his  studies  im- 
der  his  brother's  tuition.  At  sixteen,  he  taught  a  school 
at  Portapaug,  and  was  there  two  successive  winters. 
In  1793,  he  took  charge  of  the  Plainfield  Academy,  at 
the  same  time  pursuing  his  classical  and  mathematical 
studies,  under  the  Rev.  Dr.  Benedict.  On  leaving 
Plainfield,  he  became  a  member  of  Brown  University, 
and  remained  there  for  one  year,  during  which  time  he 
held  the  highest  rank  as  a  scholar ;  but  it  seems,  from 
the  college  catalogue,  that  his  graduation,  which  was 
in  the  year  1795,  was  out  of  the  regular  course.  He 
studied  theology  under  the  direction  of  his  brother, 
about  six  months,  and  was  then  licensed  to  preach,  by 
the  New  London  Association,  and  was  immediately  sent 
on  a  mission  by  the  same  Association,  to  an  almost  des- 
olate region,  —  the  part  of  New  York  bordering  upon 
Otsego  Lake.  On  his  arrival  at  Cherry  Valley,  which 
was,  to  some  extent,  inhabited,  he  was  very  favorably 
impressed  with  the  appearance  of  the  country;  and, 
after  laboring  a  couple  of  months  in  different  places  in 
that  region,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to  return  to 
Cherry  Valley,  in  the  double  capacity  of  a  preacher 
and  a  teacher.  Here  he  established  a  flourishing  acad- 
emy, and  had  the  charge  of  it  as  long  as  he  lived  in  the 
place. 

After  having  remained  two  or  three  years  in  Cherry 
Valley,  he  was  on  a  journey  to  visit  his  friends  in  New 
England,  and  stopped  at  Schenectady  to  pass  the  night. 
One  of  the  ministers  of  the  place,  having  fallen  in  with 

18 


274  PRESBYTERIAN   CntJRCIL 

him,  invited  liim  to  conduct  an  evening  religious  ser 
vice ;  and  tlie  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  President  of  the  college, 
being  present,  was  so  favorably  impressed  by  the  ser- 
mon, that  he  immediately  proposed  Mr.  Nott  as  a  can- 
didate to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Albany, 
which  was  then  without  a  pastor.  The  result  was  that 
he  was  invited  to  preach  to  that  church  two  Sabbaths, 
after  which  he  received  a  call,  which,  though  not  en- 
tirely unanimous,  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  accept.  He 
was  installed  on  the  13tli  of  October,  1798.  The  chm-ch 
of  which  he  now  became  pastor,  was  one  of  great  influ- 
ence, and  his  ministry  attracted  such  men  as  Alexander 
Hamilton,  Aaron  Burr,  Brockholst  Livingston,  and 
others  of  like  reputation. 

When  the  news  of  the  duel  between  Hamilton  and 
BuiT  reached  Albany,  Mr.  ISTott  was  attending  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Union  College,  Schen- 
ectady. The  common  council  of  Albany  dispatched  a 
messenger  to  him,  mth  a  request  that  he  would  preach 
a  sermon  mth  reference  to  the  event  the  next  Sabbath. 
He  complied  with  their  request,  and  preached  the  cele- 
brated sermon  on  duelling,  which  passed  through  sev- 
eral editions,  and  was  reckoned  a  masterpiece  of  pulpit 
eloquence. 

In  1804,  he  was  chosen  to  the  Presidency  of  Union 
College,  Schenectady,  and  held  the  place  during  the 
residue  of  his  life.  In  1805,  he  received  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  and, 
in  1828,  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Brown 
University.  In  1811,  he  was  Moderator  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Thouo-h  Dr.  Nott  continued  to  hold  the  office  of  Pres- 


BIOGEAPmCAL   SKETCHES.  2iO 

ident  till  the  close  of  liis  life,  lie  was  relieved  of  its  ac 
tive  duties  in  1852,  by  the  induction  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Hickok  to  the  offices  of  Professor  and  Vice-President. 
As  he  advanced  in  age  his  strength  of  both  body  and 
mind  gradually  failed,  until  he  was  reduced  to  an  al- 
most infantile  weakness.  The  winter  of  1859-60  he 
spent  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  hope  of  invigorating  his 
health ;  and,  during  that  period,  he  exerted  himself  to 
the  utmost  to  bring  about  a  reconciliation  between  the 
two  parties  into  which  the  Presbyterian  Church  was  di- 
vided. He  gradually  retired,  not  only  from  all  the  activ- 
ities of  life,  but  fi'om  the  society  of  his  friends,  except 
as  he  could  meet  them  in  his  own  dwelling.  His  last 
days  were  days  of  great  physical  suffering,  and  his 
mind  was  sometimes  clouded  with  gloom ;  but  his  con- 
fidence in  his  Redeemer  was  generally  firm  and  unwav' 
ering,  and  he  left  a  dying  testimony  to  the  power  and 
excellence  of  that  Gospel  in  which  he  trusted.  He 
passed  gently  to  his  rest  on  the  29th  of  January,  1866. 
An  appropriate  and  impressive  address  was  delivered 
at  his  funeral  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  T.  Backus. 

Dr.  Nott  was  married  in  July,  1796,  to  Sally  Maria, 
eldest  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Joel  Benedict,  of  Plain- 
field.  She  died  in  March,  1804,  the  mother  of  foui' 
childi'en.  In  1807,  he  was  married  to  Gertrude  Tib- 
bits,  of  Troy,  who  died  about  1840,  the  mother  of  two 
children.  In  1842,  he  was  married  to  Urania  E.  Shel- 
don, of  Utica,  who  yet  survives. 

Dr.  Nott's  principal  publications  are  Lectures  on 
Temperance  and  Counsels  to  Young  Men,  though  he 
was  the  author  of  several  Occasional  Sermons  and  Ad 
di-esses,  which  have  gained  a  wide  circulation. 


276  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

Dr.  Nott  was,  undoubtedly,  one  of  the  most  strongly 
marked  men  of  liis  generation.  In  his  person  he  was 
large  and  portly,  and  his  countenance  betokened,  in  a 
high  degree,  both  thoughtfulness  and  intelligence.  His 
mind  was  at  once  philosophical  and  practical:  while 
he  could  penetrate  the  depths,  and  was  at  home  in  the 
regions  of  abstract  science,  he  knew  how  to  make  the 
results  of  his  inquiries  turn  to  good  account  in  the 
every-day  concerns  of  life.  In  his  ordinary  intercoui'se, 
he  was  bland  and  courteous,  and  yet  no  one  knew  bet- 
ter than  he  how  to  maintain  a  dignified  resei've.  In  the 
pulpit,  he  was  everywhere  recognized  as  a  prince  among 
orators ;  and  though,  during  the  early  part  of  his  minis- 
try, especially,  the  American  pulpit  had  perhaps  the 
brightest  galaxy  it  has  ever  known,  there  was  probably 
no  one  who  held  a  higher  rank  than  himself.  His  im- 
pressive manner  of  utterance  was,  no  doubt,  the  result 
of  great  care  and  study  ;  but  it  seemed  only  the  legiti- 
mate actings  of  a  grand  and  lofty  spirit.  His  style  was 
ornate  and  striking,  and  formed  after  the  finest  of  the 
French  models.'  As  the  President  of  a  college,  he  was 
greatly  beloved  and  honored  by  those  under  his  care, 
and  was  generally  admired  for  his  cautious  and  adi'oit 
management.  As  a  member  of  ecclesiastical  bodies, 
indeed,  in  all  his  intercourse  ^\ith  society,  he  studied  the 
things  that  make  for  peace.  He  was  a  noble  sj)ecimen 
of  the  divine  workmanship. 

WILLIAM  NEILL,  D.D. 

WiLLiAiM  Neill,  a  son  of  William  and  Jane  (Suod- 
grass)  Neill,  was  born  a  few  miles  from  Fort  Pitt  (now 
Pittsburg),  Pa.,  in  the  spring  of  1778  or  1779:   the 


BIOaEAPinCAL    SKETCIIE9.  277 

25tli  of  iVpril  has  been  fixed  as  tlie  day  of  liis  birth, 
though  there  is  some  doubt  as  to  both  the  year  and  the 
day,  on  account  of  a  deficiency  in  the  record.  Both  his 
parents  Avere  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  his  father 
being  of  Irish,  his  mother  of  Scottish,  descent.  In  the 
spring  of  1779  or  1780,  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to 
a  farm  about  eight  miles  from  their  residence,  and 
there  his  father  and  his  father's  brother  were  most 
barbarously  murdered  by  the  Indians,  and  his  mother 
escaped  in  great  peril,  carrying  him  in  her  aims,  to  a 
block-house  in  the  neighborhood.  On  the  death  of  his 
mother,  which  occurred  about  three  years  afterwards,  he 
was  taken  to  live  in  the  family  of  his  mother's  brother, 
near  Pittsburg,  where  he  passed  his  early  boyhood  in 
circumstances  not  the  most  favorable  to  either  intellec- 
tual or  moral  culture.  Having  led,  for  several  years, 
rather  a  migratory  life,  —  living  first  ^vitli  one  of  his 
sisters  and  then  with  another, — he  accepted  a  clerkship, 
in  1795,  in  the  store  of  a  res]3ectable  merchant  in  Can- 
onsburg.  Shortly  after  this,  he  was  the  subject  of  a 
very  threatening  illness,  dming  which  he  formed  the 
purpose  of  entering  on  a  new  life,  if  his  health  should 
be  restored;  but,  though  it  was  restored,  his  purpose 
was  not  immediately  carried  out.  Not  long  after  this, 
however,  he  began  to  attend  on  the  ministrations  of  the 
venerable  Dr.  McMillan,  and  through  the  influence  of 
his  preaching  was  brought  to  deep,  serious  reflection. 
While  he  was  in  this  state  of  mind,  and  before  he  had 
any  satisfactory  evidence  of  having  begun  the  Christian 
life,  he  felt  a  strong  desire  to  become  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel;  and  he,  accordingly,  entered  the  academy  at 
Canonsburg,  and   began  his  Latin  grammar,  in  1797. 


278  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

It  was  not  long  before  liis  mind  reposed  trustingly  in 
tlie  gracious  provisions  of  the  Gospel,  and  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Charters,  thep 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  Dr.  McMillan. 

In  the  autumn  of  1800,  he  left  Canonsburg,  and  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Sophomore  class  in  the  College  of 
Kew  Jersey.  He  was  graduated  in  September,  1803  ; 
and  it  was  a  high  testimony  to  his  scholarship  and  gen- 
ei'al  character,  while  a  student  in  college,  that  he  was 
appointed  immediately  to  a  tutorshi23,  which  office  he 
accepted,  and  held  for  two  years.  With  a  view  to  carry 
out  his  pm^pose  to  become  a  minister  of  the  gosj^el,  he 
l^rosecuted  his  theological  studies,  while  he  was  acting 
as  tutor,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Kollock 
In  October,  1805,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick;  and,  in  compliance 
with  a  request  which  he  had  received  before  his  licen 
sm'e,  went  immediately  to  Coopersto^vn,  N.  Y.,to  ])reach 
as  a  candidate.  As  his  services  proved  highly  accepta- 
ble, a  call  was  made  out  for  him  in  the  coui'se  of  the 
next  summer,  which  being  accej^ted,  he  was  ordained 
and  installed  there,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Oneida,  in 
November,  1806.  Here  he  had  a  very  comfortable  and 
useful  ministry.  A  portion  of  his  time  seems  to  have 
been  devoted  to  teaching,  for  Fennimore  Cooper  was,  at 
one  time,  his  pupil. 

In  the  summer  of  1809,  he  received  a  call  from  the 
First  Presbyterian  Chm-ch  in  Albany,  to  become  the 
successor  of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Eomeyn  in  the  pastoral  office. 
As  his  salary  at  Cooperstown  was  inadequate  to  the 
support  of  his  family,  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  accept 
the  call ;  and,  accordingly,  having  resigned  his  charge, 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCKES.  279 

he  removed  to  Albany,  and  began  Ms  labors  there  in 
September,  1809.  In  1812,  he  was  honored  with  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  fi'om  Union  College.  The 
same  year  he  became  deeply  interested  in  the  founding 
of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  and  secured 
considerable  funds  in  aid  of  the  enterprise.  He  was 
one  of  the  Directors  of  the  institution  from  its  begin- 
ning. In  1816,  he  was  a  member  of  the  convention 
that  formed  the  American  Bible  Society. 

In  the  summer  of  1816,  he  received  an  invitation  to 
become  the  Pastor  of  the  Sixth  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Philadelphia,  —  then  a  new  organization  that  grew  out 
of  a  secession  fi'om  the  Thii*d  Church,  on  the  settlement 
of  Dr.  Ely.  He  accepted  the  call,  and  was  installed  in 
November  follomng,  though  he  subsequently  doubted 
whether  he  had  been  mse  in  leavino;  his  charo-e  in  Al- 
bany.  The  congregation  gradually  increased  under  his 
ministry,  and  considerable  numbers  were  added  to  the 
church,  without  anything,  however,  that  could  be  called 
a  revival  of  religion.  His  ministry  here  was  an  unu- 
sually quiet  one,  but  he  was  the  object  of  universal 
respect. 

In  the  summer  of  1824,  he  was  invited  to  the  Presi- 
dency of  Dickinson  College,  as  the  successor  of  the  Eev. 
Dr.  John  M.  Mason.  This  invitation,  after  considerable 
hesitation,  he  accej^ted,  and  removed  to  Carlisle  in  Sep- 
tember, following.  Here  his  situation,  owing  to  various 
circumstances,  was  far  from  being  what  he  desired  or  ex- 
pected; and,  in  July,  1829,  after  having  been  connected 
with  the  institution  nearly  five  years,  he  tendered  the 
resignation  of  his  office.     He  consented,  however,  to  re- 


280  PRESBYTERL\.N    CntlRCH. 

main  till  after  the  Commencement,  wlaicli  took  place  at 
tlie  close  of  September. 

His  connection  with  the  college  having  now  ceased, 
he  accepted  the  office  of  Corresponding  Secretary  and 
General  Agent  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Education, 
and  engaged  immediately  in  its  duties,  remaining  mean- 
while in  Carlisle.  In  September,  1830,  he  retui-ned  with 
his  family  to  Philadelphia.  In  the  autumn  of  1831,  he 
resigned  his  agency,  without  having  accomplished  much, 
except  in  the  way  of  preparing  for  futm*e  more  vigor- 
ous operations.  Immediately  after  this,  he  removed, 
with  his  family,  to  Germantown,  and,  being  desirous  of 
resuming  the  work  of  the  ministry,  became  a  stated 
supply  to  the  church  in  that  place.  He  removed  fi-om 
Germauto\vn  to  Philadelphia,  in  1842,  and  remained 
without  a  charge  till  his  death,  which  took  place  on 
the  8tli  of  August,  1860.  During  this  long  inverval, 
he  was  constantly  engaged  in  doing  good,  though  his 
labors  were  of  a  somewhat  miscellaneous  character. 
Besides  often  supplying  vacant  pulpits  in  the  city,  and 
rendering  assistance  to  his  brethren  when  they  were  in 
need  of  it,  he  was  ahv^ays  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand 
to  any  object  of  Christian  benevolence  that  presented 
itself.  His  faculties  gradually  waned,  but  he  never  lost 
his  interest  in  the  progress  of  truth  and  I'ighteousness. 

In  October,  1805,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  IMatthe^v  Vandyke,  who  lived  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Princeton.  Slie  died  in  November,  1809,  leaving 
him  with  two  iirfant  children.  In  February,  1811,  he 
was  married  to  Frances,  second  daughter  of  General 
Joshua  King,  of  Ridgeiield,  Conn.  She  died  in  October, 
1832,  the  mother  of  three  childi'en.     In  April,  1835,  he 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  281 

was  married  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Elmer, 
of  Bridgeton,  N.J.,  who  still  (1870)  survives.  By  the 
last  marriage  there  were  two  children. 

Dr.  Neill's  publications  were  Lectures  on  Biblical 
History,  and  a  Practical  Exposition  of  the  Epistle  to 
the  Ephesians,  besides  several  Occasional  Discourses. 
After  his  death  there  was  published  a  volume  of  his 
Sei-mons,  with  his  Autobiography,  and  a  Commemora- 
tive Discourse  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  H.  Jones. 

Dr.  Neill  was  somewhat  above  the  medium  height, 
had  an  intelligent,  thoughtful  expression  of  counten- 
ance, and  was  rather  deliberate  in  his  movements.  His 
mind  was  naturally  well  balanced,  and  his  faculties 
were  developed  in  due  proportion.  He  was  natm-ally 
quiet  and  gentle  and  unpretending,  though  he  was  al- 
ways firm  to  his  convictions  of  duty.  As  a  Preacher, 
he  was  distinguished  for  method,  sound  logic,  and  a 
highly  evangelical  tone;  and  though  his  manner  was 
far  from  being  generally  impassioned,  yet  he  sometimes 
rose  to  a  high  pitch  of  animation.  As  the  President  of  a 
college,  his  success  was  less  strongly  marked ;  but  it  is 
perhaps  safe  to  presume  that  this  was  owing,  in  a  meas- 
m'e  at  least,  to  the  adverse  influences  with  which  he  had 
to  contend.  As  a  Christian,  his  heart  always  seemed  to 
be  glowing  with  love  to  Christ  and  his  cause;  and, 
wherever  he  has  lived,  he  has  left  behind  him  endming 
Qiomiments  of  his  beneficent  activity. 

JOHN  Mcdowell,  d.d. 

John  McDowell,  a  son  of  Matthew  and  Elizabeth 
(Anderson)  McDowell,  was  born  in  Bedminster,  Som- 
erset County,  N.J.,  on  the   10th  of  September,  1780. 


282  PEESBYTERIAX    CHURCH. 

His  parents  were  exemplary  members  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Cliurcli  at  Lamington,  and  their  children  were  the 
subjects  of  the  most  careful  Christian  niu'tui'e.  At  the 
age  of  eleven  years  this  son  became  deeply  concerned 
for  his  immortal  interests,  and,  after  a  protracted  season 
of  anxiety,  was  enabled,  as  he  believed,  to  exercise  a 
living  faith  in  the  Saviour ;  though,  for  a  considerable 
time,  he  regarded  the  evidences  of  his  Christian  charac- 
ter as  somewhat  dubious.  At  an  early  period,  he  felt  a 
strong  desire  to  become  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel ;  and, 
having  worked  u23on  liis  father's  farm  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  old,  he  became  a  member  of  a  classical 
school,  then  recently  established  in  the  neighborhood 
by  the  Rev.  William  Boyd.  Here  he  continued  for 
three  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1799  entered  the  Junior 
class  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  then  under  the  pres- 
idency of  Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith.  He  graduated 
mth  honor  in  September,  1801. 

After  his  graduation,  he  engaged  as  a  teacher  in  Sus- 
sex County  for  six  months,  and  commenced  the  study 
of  theology,  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  H.  W. 
Himt,  of  Newton,  KJ.;  though,  in  the  spriug  of  1802, 
he  went  to  study,  under  Dr.  Woodhull,  at  Freehold, 
where  he  continued  for  about  two  years.  It  was  not 
till  he  had  been  engaged  in  the  study  of  theology  nearly 
a  year  that  he  made  a  public  profession  of  religion. 
He  jomed  Dr.  Woodhull's  chui'ch,  in  September,  1802, 
—  eleven  years  after  he  first  indulged  the  hope  thai 
he  had  been  l)orn  from  above.  Sliortly  after  this,  he 
placed  himself  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  and,  in  April,  1804,  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  Gospel.     Having  preached  a  few  Sabbaths  in  dif- 


BIOGKAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  283 

ferent  places,  lie  was  called,  in  July  following,  by  the 
Presbyterian  cliurcli  in  Elizabethto^vn,  to  become  tlieir 
Pastor.  This  call  he  accepted,  and  his  ordination  and 
installation  took  place  about  the  close  of  December. 

Mr.  McDowell  now  became  the  minister  of  one  of 
the  largest  and  most  influential  congregations  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Presbyterian  Church;  and  his  position 
was  the  more  difficult  fi'om  the  fact  that  certain  agitat- 
ing influences  had  previously  existed  there,  which  had 
l^laced  different  portions  of  the  congregation  in  antago- 
nism wdth  each  other.  He,  however,  immediately  in- 
augurated a  system  of  measures,  which  were  fitted  to 
heal  existing  difficulties,  as  well  as  to  bring  the  Gospel 
in  contact  with  all  classes  of  persons  around  him. 

In  the  mnter  and  s]^)ring  of  1806,  he  made  a  journey, 
for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  into  New  England,  of 
which  he  has  recorded  many  interesting  particulars. 
In  August,  1807,  there  commenced  a  revival  of  religion 
under  his  ministry,  which  not  only  pervaded  his  con- 
gregation, but  spread  into  other  congregations,  and 
lasted  eighteen  months.  In  the  spring  of  1809,  he 
received  a  call  from  the  Collegiate  Dutch  Church,  in 
New  York,  which  he  was  greatly  urged  to  accept,  but 
which,  in  due  time,  he  declined.  Scarcely  was  this  call 
disposed  of  before  he  received  another  from  the  Brick 
(Presbyterian)  Church  in  the  same  city,  but  this  also, 
though,  by  the  urgent  request  of  the  church  that  pre- 
sented it,  it  was  submitted  to  the  Presbytery,  was 
quickly  answered  in  the  negative. 

About  this  time  (September,  1809),  Mr.  McDowell 
preached  his  memorable  sermon  on  Horse-racing.  Being 
aware  that  a  horse-race  was  contemplated  by  some  per- 


284  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

sons  fi'om  New  York,  in  tlie  immediate  neigliborliood 
of  Elizabethtown,  and  knowing  well  the  evils  by  which 
such  scenes  are  generally  attended,  he  resolved  to  do 
what  he  could  to  avert  the  threatening  calamity.  Hav- 
ing tried  in  vain  to  secui'e  the  influence  of  the  ci\Til  au- 
thoiities  against  the  movement,  he  resolved  to  put  forth 
his  own  influence  in  a  more  direct  manner,  and,  accord- 
ingly, wrote  and  preached  a  sermon  on  the  text,  "  Cry 
aloud,  and  spare  not,"  etc.  Several,  who  had  most  to 
do  with  the  races,  were  present,  and,  though  at  first 
they  seemed  to  take  on  an  air  of  defiance,  before  the 
sermon  was  finished  they  were  evidently  smarting  un- 
der its  scathing  rebukes.  The  horse-race  went  forward, 
attended  with  fearful  exhibitions  of  \dce  and  crime,  but 
it  terminated  prematurely,  and  no*  effort  was  ever  made 
to  repeat  it.  No  event  in  the  whole  ministry  of  this 
excellent  man  showed  more  impressively  than  this  his 
unyielding  fidelity  to  his  own  convictions. 

In  1810,  Mr.  McDowell  was  appointed,  with  his  neigli- 
bor.  Dr.  Richards,  of  Newark,  to  represent  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  to  the  General 
Association  of  New  Hampshire.  They  were  absent 
about  a  month,  and,  during  the  whole  of  that  time, 
found  everything  they  could  desire  to  minister  to  their 
social  enjoyment.  The  meeting  of  the  Association  was 
at  Exeter,  but  they  travelled  as  far  as  Portsmouth, 
and  even  crossed  over  into  Maine,  for  the  sake  of 
setting  theii-  feet  in  anotlier  department  of  the  Yankee 
dominion. 

In  1812,  when  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton 
■was  established,  Mr.  INIcDowell  was  chosen  one  of  its 
first  Directors;  and  in  1825,  he  was  appointed  one  of  its 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  285 

Trustees ;  botli  of  whicli  offices  he  lield  till  tlie  close  of 
life.  Ill  1814,  1815,  and  1818,  lie  took  long  journeys 
in  different  parts  of  tlie  countiy,  to  collect  funds  in  aid 
of  the  Theological  Seminary,  and  was  generally  very 
successful.  In  1818,  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  University  of  North 
Carolina  and  by  Union  College.  In  1820,  he  was  Mod- 
erator of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  same  year,  the  church  of  which  he  was 
pastor,  having  reached  a  membership  of  between  six 
and  seven  hundred,  it  was  thought  best  that  a  colony 
from  it  should  be  organized  into  a  second  church ;  and 
of  that  chui-ch  the  Rev.  David  Magie  was  chosen  pas- 
tor, who  has,  within  a  few  years,  closed  an  honored  and 
useful  ministry.  In  1822,  he  was  appointed  a  delegate, 
by  the  General  Assembly,  to  the  General  Associations 
of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  and  fulfilled  his  mis- 
sion in  respect  to  both  Associations,  to  great  acceptance. 
In  1824,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  New  York 
gave  him  a  unanimous  call  to  become  their  pastor,  but 
he  declined  it.  In  September  of  the  next  year  the  call, 
was  repeated,  and,  on  being  referred  to  the  Presbytery, 
there  was  a  unanimous  decision  that  it  was  his  duty  to 
remain  at  Elizabethto^vn.  In  1828,  he  was  appointed, 
by  the  General  Assembly,  Professor  of  Ecclesiastical 
History  and  Church  Government  in  the  Western  (Alle- 
gheny) Theological  Seminary ;  but,  after  due  reflection, 
he  became  satisfied  that  it  was  his  duty  to  decline  the 
appointment.  In  1831,  he  was  chosen  to  the  Professor- 
ship of  Church  History  and  Polity  in  the  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  Virginia,  as  successor  to  Dr.  John 
H.  Eice ;  and  though  he  accepted  the  appointment,  and 


286  peesbyteria:st  ciiurch. 

was  actually  released  from  his  pastoral  cliarge  by  tlio 
Presbyteiy,  yet  circumstances  subsequently  occurred 
that  rendered  it  undesirable  to  him  to  leave  Elizabeth- 
to^vn,  and,  mthout  being  formally  installed,  he  was  re- 
stored to  his  pastorate.  In  1832,  he  went  on  a  shoi*t 
begging  tour  to  the  South,  in  behalf  of  Princeton  Col- 
lege ;  and  about  the  same  time  declined  a  call  from  the 
church  in  Princeton,  and  also  an  appointment  as  General 
Agent  and  Secretary  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of 
Missions.  Early  in  1833,  a  proposal  was  made  to  him 
to  come  and  administer  the  communion  to  a  new  chm'ch. 
in  Philadelphia;  and  shortly  after,  he  received  fi'om 
that  church  a  formal  call;  and  though  Ms  attach- 
ment to  his  congregation  remained  undiminished,  yet 
partly  on  account  of  his  health,  and  partly  from  some 
adverse  circumstances  which  he  found  it  difficult  to 
control,  he  accepted  the  call,  and  thus  closed  an  event 
ful  ministry  at  Elizabethtown,  of  twenty-eight  years. 

Dr.  McDowell  was  installed  as  pastoi-  of  the  Central 
Church,  Philadelphia,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadel- 
phia, on  the  Gth  of  June,  1833.  When  the  controversy 
arose  which  issued  in  the  di^4sion  of  tlie  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  1837,  though  he  fell  in  with  the  Old  School, 
he  was  far  from  favoring  the  division ;  believing,  as  he 
did,  that  whatever  errors  in  doctrine  or  practice  existed, 
they  could  be  effectually  corrected  without  a  resort  to 
extreme  measm-es.  His  attachment  to  that  portion  of 
the  Church  with  which  he  identified  himself,  was,  how- 
ever, firm  and  endiu'ing.  He  held  the  office  of  Perma- 
nent Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly,  from  1825  till 
1837,  and  the  office  of  Stated  Clerk  fi'om  183C.  till 
1840. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  287 

In  1844,  Dr.  McDowell  discovered  that  the  pecuniary 
indebtedness  of  his  congregation  was  much  greater  than 
he  had  supposed,  and  was  brought  to  believe  that  it  was 
his  duty  to  resign  his  pastoral  charge.  Accordingly,  by 
his  own  request,  the  Presbytery  dissolved  the  pastoral 
relation,  in  November,  1845,  the  congregation  mean- 
while rendering  the  most  honorable  testimony  to  his 
character  and  services. 

Several  congregations  were  now  ready  to  extend  a 
call  to  him,  but,  instead  of  encom-aging  any  such  move- 
ment, he  joined  a  portion  of  the  congregation  to  which  he 
had  ministered,  in  an  effort  to  establish  a  new  church. 
He  commenced  preaching  in  the  old  Fourth  Street 
(Whitefield)  Academy,  where  he  continued  for  a  year. 
An  application  was  made  to  the  Presbyteiy,  in  Januaiy, 
1846,  for  the  organization  of  a  new  chui'ch,  and  the  re- 
quest being  granted,  the  church  was  organized  a  few 
days  afterwards,  under  the  name  of  the  Spring-Garden 
Presbyterian  Church.  Dr.  McDowell  was  immediately 
invited  to  become  the  pastor,  and,  having  accej^ted  the 
call,  was  installed  -within  a  few  days.  A  new  j^lace  of 
worship  was  forthwith  erected,  through  the  generous 
contributions  of  friends,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  and 
was  ready  for  occupancy,  in  May,  1847.  In  1851,  in 
consequence  of  an  accumulation  of  snow  on  the  roof  of 
the  church,  the  building  fell  under  the  weight.  The 
disaster  awakened  a  general  sympathy  throughout  the 
city  and  elsewhere,  and  mthin  about  six  months  it  was 
rebuilt,  re-dedicated,  and  reoccupied. 

In  the  spring  of  1859,  Dr.  McDowell  expressed  to 
his  session,  for  the  second  time,  the  full  conviction  that, 
in  consequence  of  the  increasing  infirmities  of  age,  it 


288  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

was  fittincr  that  lie  should  be  relieved  from  the  duties  of 
his  chai'ge.  In  cousequence  of  this,  the  Rev.  Morris  C. 
Sutpheu  was  settled  as  his  colleague,  in  May,  1860; 
and  the  relation  Avas  always  mutually  agreeable.  After 
this,  Dr.  McDowell  preached  frequently,  and,  dui'ing 
the  greater  j^art  of  the  summer  of  1861,  he  performed 
the  service  regularly  once  almost  every  Sabbath.  He 
died  of  what  seemed  to  be  an  attack  of  1:)ilious  colic,  on 
the  13th  of  February,  1863.  At  his  funeral,  there  was 
every  demonstration  of  the  highest  respect,  and  the 
Churches  and  the  Boards  with  which  he  had  been  con- 
nected passed  resolutions  expressive  of  their  sense  of 
his  extraordinary  worth. 

In  February,  1805,  he  was  married  to  Henrietta, 
daughter  of  Shepard  Kollock,  Esq.,  of  Elizabeth- 
town,  and  sister  of  the  far-famed  Dr.  Kollock,  then 
of  Princeton,  afterwards  of  Savannah.  They  became 
the  parents  of  three  children.  Mrs.  McDowell  died  in 
January,  1867. 

Besides  about  a  dozen  Sermons  in  pamphlet  form. 
Dr.  IMcDowell  published,  in  1825,  a  System  of  Theol- 
ogy, in  two  vols.  8vo ;  in  1839,  The  Bible-Class  Manual, 
in  two  vols.  12mo ;  and,  in  1816,  A  System  of  Questions 
on  the  Historical  parts  of  Scriptm-e,  afterwards  extended 
to  cover  the  entire  Bible. 

Few  men  have  ever  been  connected  with  the  Ameri- 
can Presbyterian  Church  who  have  rendered  to  it  such 
manifold  and  varied  services  as  Dr.  McDowell.  Though 
he  never  sought  pul.-)licity  in  any  other  way  than  by  at 
tending  faitlifully  to  the  duties  devolved  upon  him,  tlie 
number  of  applications  for  his  services  in  important 
places  was  perhaps  unprecedented.     He  w^as  a  man  of 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  'Jbd 

excellent  common-sense,  without  being  either  liiglily 
imaginative  or  metaphysical.  He  had  great  executive 
ability,  and  rarely  engaged  in  an  enterprise  that  did  not 
prove  successful.  But  his  cro^wning  attribute  was  an 
earnest,  devoted  piety,  which  gave  complexion  to  his 
whole  life.  His  preaching  was  in  a  high  degree  evan- 
gelical, practical,  and  experimental ;  and  his  labors  out 
of  the  pulpit  were  eminently  fitted  to  give  effect  to  his 
teachings  in  it.  His  ministry  at  Elizabethto^vn,  espe- 
cially, was  signalized  by  a  succession  of  revivals  of  re- 
ligion which  scarcely  any  other  chui'ch  has  ever  enjoyed. 
It  was  manifest  to  all  who  saw  him,  that  the  great  ob- 
ject for  which  he  lived  was  to  bring  glory  to  God  in 
the  Highest  by  saving  the  souls  of  his  fellow-men. 


Dr.  McDowell  had  a  brother,  William  ANDERSOif 
McDowell,  who  is  justly  entitled  to  a  commemorative 
notice.  He  was  born  in  Lamington,  May  15th,  1789; 
was  graduated  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  in  1809 ; 
studied  Theology  under  Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  of 
Princeton,  and  Dr.  KoUock,  of  Savannah,  who  after- 
wards became  his  brother-in-law ;  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled Pastor  of  the  church  at  Bound  Brook,  in  De- 
cember, 1813,  but  remained  there  less  than  a  year;  was 
installed  at  Morristo^vn,  in  December,  1814,  and  con- 
tinued there  about  nine  years ;  was  installed  as  Pastor 
of  a  church  in  Charleston,  in  December,  1823;  was 
honored  ^\dth  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from 
Franklin  College,  Georgia,  in  1827;  was  Moderator  of 
the  General  Assembly,  in  1833,  and  at  the  same  time 

19 


290  PRESBYTERIAN"   CHURCH. 

was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Domestic  Mis- 
sions, and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  with  great 
fidelity  until  1850,  when  his  declining  health  obliged 
him  to  withdi-aw  from  it.  He  died  at  Lamington,  on 
the  17th  of  September,  1851.  He  was  exceedingly 
quiet  and  unobtrusive  in  his  manner,  but  possessed  an 
intellect  of  uncommon  vigor  and  clearness,  mth  fine  so- 
cial feelings,  and  an  earnest,  devoted  piety.  He  was 
withal  an  excellent  2:»reacher  and  pastor,  and  sustained 
honorably  and  usefully  every  relation. 

GEORGE  JTJNKIN,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

George  Jihstkin",  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Eleanor  (Coch- 
ran) Junkin,  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, on  the  1st  of  November,  1790.  His  parents  were 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  belonged  to  that  branch  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  known  as  Covenanters.  They 
were  most  faithful  in  the  reli2:ious  education  of  their 
children,  and  the  event  proved  that  their  parental  fidel- 
ity was  not  in  vain.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
very  early  brought  into  a  serious  state  of  mind,  and  his 
o^\^l  conviction  was  that,  in  his  eleventh  year,  he  experi- 
enced a  radical  change  of  character.  He  did  not,  how- 
ever, make  a  public  profession  of  his  faith  until  he  had 
reached  his  nineteenth  year ;  and  for  this  he  was  greatly 
indebted  to  the  preaching  of  the  Kev.  James  Galloway, 
his  pastor  at  Mercer,  who  afterwards  became  his  brother- 
in-law.  From  this  time  till  the  close  of  his  life,  he 
seems  to  have  had  scarcely  any  doubts  of  his  gracious 
acceptance. 

His  earliest  years  were  spent  in  Cumberland  Comity, 
and  aftei'Nvards  in  Mercer  County,  where  his  father's 


BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  291 

family  liad  their  home.  The  means  of  intellectual  cult- 
m-e,  in  that  region,  were,  at  that  time,  by  no  means 
abundant;  and  yet,  l^y  diligent  application,  and  with 
such  aid  as  he  was  able  to  command,  he  was  fitted  for 
Jeiferson  College,  and  actually  became  a  member  of  it 
in  1809.  He  graduated  in  1813,  having,  for  the  sake 
of  lessening  the  expense  of  his  education,  spent  a  large 
part  of  his  college  life  at  home,  though  keeping  along 
with  the  prescribed  course  of  study. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation,  —  his  eye  and  his 
heart  being  set  upou  the  Ministry, — he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Associate  Re- 
formed Chui'ch,  under  the  care  of  the  illustrious  Dr. 
Mason.  Here  he  remained  three  years,  taking  the  regu- 
lar theological  course,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
Gospel,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Monongahela,  of  the  Asso- 
ciate Reformed  Church,  in  September,  1816.  Agreeably 
to  an  existing  arrangement  in  that  Church,  by  which 
licentiates  were  sent,  by  the  General  Synod,  to  the  sev- 
ei'al  j^resbyteries,  IMr.  Junkin  was  sent  to  labor  within  the 
presbyteries  of  New  York  and  Saratoga.  He,  accord- 
mgly,  preached  there  in  the  autumn  and  winter  months 
of  1816,  and  afterwards  was  engaged  in  missionary  lar 
bor  in  dilferent  parts  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland. 
In  June,  1818,  with  a  view  to  his  greater  usefulness 
as  a  missionary,  he  received  ordination  in  Gettysburg. 
Shortly  after  this  he  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the 
united  congregations  of  Milton  and  Pennell  (now  Mc- 
Ewensville),  and,  having  accepted  the  invitation,  en- 
tered at  once  upon  his  labors  as  pastor. 

His  connection  mth  this  charge  continued  about 
eleven  years ;  and  in  the  mean  time  (in  1824)  he  passed 


292  PRESBYTERIAN  CHUROH. 

from  the  Associate  Eeformed  to  the  Presbyterian 
Cliurcli.  Diu-ing  this  period  he'  was  constantly  and 
earnestly  engaged  in  the  various  duties  of  the  ministry, 
and  had  the  evidence,  on  every  side  of  him,  that  his  la- 
bors were  not  in  vain.  He  resigned  his  charge,  however, 
in  1830,  and,  in  the  hope  of  attaining  to  yet  higher  use- 
fulness, accepted  the  position  of  Princi]3al  of  the  Manual 
Labor  Academy  at  Germantown.  Here  he  remained  for 
two  years,  when  he  was  invited  to  remove  his  students 
to  Easton,  and,  taking  advantage  of  a  charter  obtained 
from  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  for  a  military 
school,  to  become  the  President  of  a  college.  This  imi- 
tation he  accepted;  and,  shortly  after,  Lafayette  College 
Aras  organized,  and  he  entered  upon  his  work  with  a 
zeal  mounting  up  well-nigh  to  enthusiasm.  He  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  this  new  relation  -svith  great  abil- 
ity and  fidelity;  and  besides  his  week-day  labors  in 
connection  with  the  college,  which  were  arduous  and 
incessant,  he  usually  preached,  at  least  once,  on  the 
Sabbath,  and  sometimes  three,  and  even  four,  times. 
In  1833,  he  was  honored  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  from  the  college  at  which  he  graduated,  and, 
in  1856,  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Rut- 
gers College. 

In  1841,  Dr.  Junkin  accepted  the  Presidency  of  Mi- 
ami University,  Ohio.  After  having  labored  here  with 
great  success  for  three  years, — his  successor  at  Lafay- 
ette, the  Rev.  Dr.  Yeomans,  having  resigned  his  place, 
— he  was  earnestly  invited  to  return  to  Easton,  and 
resume  his  former  position.  This  he  actually  did,  and 
continued  there  till  the  autumn  of  1848,  when  he  ac- 
cepted an  invitation  to  become  President  of  Washington 


BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  293 

College,  Lexington,  Va.  His  parting  witli  his  classes 
at  Lafayette,  on  Commencement  day,  was  a  scene  of  tlie 
most  tendei"  interest;  and  the  estimation  in  which  ho 
was  thei'e  held  was  sufficiently  indicated  by  the  fact 
that  twenty-six  of  those  who  had  been  his  students 
there,  appeared  at  the  Washington  College,  to  resume 
their  studies  under  his  direction. 

Here  he  continued  until  May,  1861, — twelve  years 
and  a  half ;  and,  as  in  every  public  position  he  had  pre- 
viously occupied,  so  here,  he  was  a  model  of  energy. 
perseverance,  and  fidelity.  When  the  clouds  began  tc^ 
darken  our  political  horizon,  and  to  forebode  the  horroi's 
of  war,  he  had  no  sympathy  with  the  proposed  seces- 
sion, regarding  the  principle  as  a  fallacy,  both  in  law 
and  in  morals ;  and  as  he  found  the  current  too  strong 
to  resist,  nothing  remained  for  him  but  to  vacate  the 
place  which  he  had  held  so  long,  and  so  usefully  and 
nonorably.  He  left  behind  many  warm  fi^iends,  some 
of  whom  were  in  full  sympathy  mth  his  political  views, 
while  the  greater  portion  of  them  believed  that  he  had 
fallen  into  a  sad,  though  honest,  mistake.  He  came 
fi'om  Vii'ginia  to  Philadelphia,  where  he,  ever  after, 
found  a  home  in  the  family  of  his  son. 

The  residue  of  his  life  was  spent,  as  the  preceding 
part  of  it  had  been,  in  a  constant  succession  of  efforts  to 
do  good.  During  his  seven  remaining  years,  he  preach(3d 
about  seven  hundred  times.  He  labored  as  a  Colpor- 
teur of  the  Board  of  Publication,  ^Hsiting  encampments, 
as  he  had  opportunity,  distributing  tracts  and  books, 
and  beseeching  sinners  to  be  reconciled  to  God.  He 
spent  days  and  even  weeks  among  the  southern  prison- 
ers at  Fort  Delaware  and  Point  Lookout,  and  was  ono 


294  PRESBYTEKIAX    CHURCH. 

of  the  first  to  exercise  his  mission  of  mercy  after  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  wi-ote  many  articles  for  the 
newspapers  in  defence  of  a  proper  observance  of  the 
Sabbath,  against  the  threatened  encroachments  of  legis- 
lative authority.  He  also  officiated  in  two  benevolent 
institutions  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  one  of  them  the  in 
mates  had  arranged  his  desk  with  reference  to  his 
speaking,  on  the  very  day  that  he  died.  And  besides 
all  his  other  labors,  he  wrote  and  published,  during  his 
last  years,  a  Treatise  on  Sanctification,  a  Treatise  on  the 
Ancient  Tabernacle  of  the  Hebrews,  and  some  smaller 
w^orks;  and  he  left  behind  him  in  manuscript  a  very 
full  Commentary  on  Paul's  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews, — • 
the  whole  of  it  written  in  a  fine,  bold  hand,  after  he  had 
completed  his  seventy -fifth  year. 

Dr.  Junkin  had,  throughout  his  whole  life,  di'eaded 
the  pains  of  death ;  but  when  death  actually  came  to 
him,  it  took  on  its  mildest  form.  Until  Monday,  the 
18th  of  May,  1868,  he  was  in  his  usual  health;  on  that 
day  he  was  taken  ill;  the  next  he  was  greatly  relieved; 
and  the  next,  Wednesday,  the  20th,  without  any  appar- 
ent aggravation  of  his  symptoms,  he  died,  with  the 
name  of  Jesus  on  his  lips.  A  Discourse,  commemorative 
of  his  life  and  character,  was  preached  in  the  West 
Spruce  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  by  the 
Kev.  Dr.  James  H.  Mason  Knox,  on  the  28th  of  June 
following. 

Dr.  Junldn  was  married  in  June,  1819,  to  Julia 
E-ush  iMiller,  of  Philadelphia,  a  lady  of  great  j^ersonal 
attractions,  of  high  intelligence,  and  earnest  piety. 
They  liad  nine  children, — five  sons  and  three  dftughters. 
Of  the  sons  who  lived  to  maturity,  two  became  minis- 


BIOGEAPmCAL   SKETCHES.  295 

ters  of  tlie  Gospel,  two  became  lawyers,  and  one  a 
teacher.  The  daughters  were  all  most  respectably  mar- 
ried. Mrs.  Junkin  died,  greatly  lamented,  in  February, 
1854. 

Besides  the  works  already  referred  to,  Dr.  Jimkin 
published,  in  1839,  a  Treatise  on  Justification,  and,  in 
1844,  Lectures  on  Prophecy.  Several  of  his  occasional 
Sermons  and  Addi*esses  were  printed.  He  was  also  a 
liberal  contributor  to  many  of  the  periodicals  of  his 
day. 

Dr.  Junkin  was  a  man  of  commanding  appearance, 
though  not  above  the  medium  height ;  of  a  countenance 
expressive  of  great  energy,  and  fine  intellectual  powers, 
and  of  manners  simple  and  direct,  and  yet  prepossess- 
ing.' In  his  private  intercourse  he  was  sociable  and 
communicative,  and  when  he  ceased  talking,  he  always 
left  the  impression  that  it  was  not  for  want  of  anything 
more  to  say.  In  his  Theology  he  was  thoroughly  Cal- 
^-inistic,  and  was  not  specially  tolerant  towards  any 
departure  fi'om  the  accredited  standards.  In  the  con- 
troversy by  which  the  Church  was  agitated  and  finally 
sej^arated  in  1837,  he  took  the  deepest  interest,  and 
though  his  intense  regard  for  orthodoxy  may  have  sug- 
gested measures  that  some  thought  extreme,  yet  those 
who  knew  him  best  have  testified  of  his  ]3rivate  expi'es- 
sions  of  respect  and  affection  even  towards  those  from 
whom  he  differed  most  widely.  Nowhere  was  he  more 
at  home  than  in  a  chui'ch  court :  here  his  promptness, 
his  energy,  his  keen  insight  into  matters  of  difiiculty, 
and  his  faculty  at  suggesting  the  appropriate  remedies, 
were  specially  apparent ;  and  no  one  who  watched  his 
movements  could  resist  the  impression  that  he  was  act- 


296  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

iiiir  in  obedieuce  to  the  dictates  of  conscience.  He  was 
just  such  a  preacher  as  might  be  expected  from  his  pe 
culiar  intellectual  and  moral  constitution,  in  connection 
^\^th  his  large  measure  of  Christian  fervor ;  he  brought 
out  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  with  great  simplicity 
and  plainness,  while  yet  his  large  and  well-stored  mind 
^vould  often  suggest  thoughts  which  were  beyond  the 
common  range  of  pulpit  instruction.  In  discharging 
the  duties  of  the  pastoral  relation,  he  was  eminently 
felicitous ;  his  fine  social  qualities  combining  mth  his 
deep  sense  of  responsibility  and  his  earnest  devotion  to 
his  work,  to  make  this  part  of  his  labor  at  once  pleasant 
to  himself  and  profitable  to  those  to  whom  he  minis- 
tered. He  was  eminently  beloved  and  honored  as  the 
Head  of  a  college ;  and  while  his  admirable  powers  and 
qualities  rendered  him  an  object  of  attraction  to  the 
students,  they  were  a  pledge  at  once  of  his  fidelity  and 
success.  The  several  churches  and  institutions  with 
which  he  has  been  connected,  rejoiced  in  his  light,  and 
now  they  gratefully  cherish  his  memory. 

JOSEPH   SmTH,  D.D. 

Joseph  Smith  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Pa.,  on 
the  15th  of  July,  1796.  His  paternal  grandfather  Avas 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  and  his  maternal  grandfather 
the  Rev.  James  Power,  D.D.,  both  of  whom  were  of 
that  noble  band  of  ministers  who  first  preached  th(3 
Gospel  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains.  His  father 
was  the  Rev.  David  Smith,  a  highly  gifted  young  man, 
who  died  in  1803,  after  a  most  successful  ministry  of 
only  nine  years.  He  (the  subject  of  this  article)  be- 
came, in  due  time,  a  member  of  Jefferson  College,  and 


BIOGRAPinCAL    SKETCHES.  297 

graduated  in  1815,  —  the  class  to  Avhicli  he  belonged 
consisting  of  only  two  persons  besides  himself.  It  was 
during  the  last  year  of  his  college  life  that  his  religious 
views  and  feelings  became  so  far  matured,  that  he  was 
enabled  to  make  a  public  profession  of  his  faith  in 
Chiist. 

After  leaving  college,  he  went  to  Virginia,  and  spent 
a  year  in  teaching  an  academy  at  Berry\dUe,  then  in 
Frederick  County.  In  the  autumn  of  1816,  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  Theology,  under  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hill, 
of  Winchester;  but,  in  the  fall  of  1817,  became  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton.  Here 
he  remained  until  April,  1819,  w^hen  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  Gos23el  by  the  Presbytery  of  Winchester. 
During  the  two  following  years  he  was  employed  as  a 
Domestic  Missionary  in  five  counties  immediately  east 
of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  extending  fi'om  the  Potomac  to 
Albemarle,  Va.  In  May,  1821,  he  was  called  to  the 
church  of  "Harrisonburg,  Rockingham  County,  and, 
having  accepted  the  call,  was  oi'dained  and  installed,  in 
the  course  of  the  ensuing  summer,  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Lexington.  Here  he  remained  till  1826 ;  and  then  be- 
came pastor  of  the  church  at  Staunton,  w^here  he  con- 
tinued about  six  years,  —  until  the  fall  of  1832.  He 
removed  now  to  Fredericktown,  Md.,  and  was  thei'e 
preaching  and  teaching  for  one  year,  and  then  accepted 
a  call  from  St.  Clairsville,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  as 
pastor  till  the  spring  of  1837.  At  that  time  he  accepted 
an  invitation  to  Ijecome  President  of  Franklin  College, 
Harrison  County,  Ohio,  but  continued  there  only  till  the 
fall  of  1838,  when  he  returned  to  Frederick,  Md.,  as 
both  Pastor  of  the  chiu'ch  and  President  of  Frederick 


298  PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCH. 

College.  He  resigned  his  pastoral  charge,  in  April, 
1843,  and  the  office  of  President,  in  July,  1844;  and, 
shortly  after  the  last-mentioned  date,  was  employed  as 
a  stated  supply  at  EUicott's  Mills,  and  a  few  months 
later  was  constituted  pastor  of  the  church.  The  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Jef 
ferson  College,  in  1845.  In  September,  1846,  he  ac- 
cepted an  agency  from  the  Board  of  Missions  in  the 
Synods  of  Pittsburg,  Wheeling,  and  Ohio ;  and  held  this 
office,  residing  first  in  Steubenville,  and  then  in  Alle- 
gheny City,  until  April,  1850.  He  then  accepted  a  call  to 
Elizabeth  and  Roundhill,  in  Redstone  Presbytery,  and 
remained  there  till  about  the  close  of  1855,  and  at  the 
beginning  of  1856  was  transferred  to  Greensburg,  where 
he  had  his  last  pastorate,  and  continued  through  a  pe- 
riod of  ten  years.  The  infirmities  of  age  had  now  begun 
to  creep  over  him,  and,  after  having  been  engaged  in 
the  service  of  his  Master  forty-seven  years,  he  felt  that 
he  had  a  right  to  retire  from  the  active  duties  of  the 
ministiy,  and,  therefore,  for  the  last  time,  resigned  his 
pastoral  charge.  He  preached,  however,  occasionally, 
after  this,  and  when  he  could  not  use  his  voice  in  public 
speaking,  he  would  use  his  pen  in  his  own  house,  and 
always  with  marked  ability. 

Dr.  Smith  had  a  naturally  vigorous  constitution,  and 
was  never  the  subject  of  any  protracted  illness.  For 
some  weeks  previous  to  his  death,  however,  lie  had  suf- 
fered from  an  affection  of  the  head,  which  had  disabled 
him  for  any  intellectual  labor.  On  the  8d  of  December, 
1868,  he  rose  in  the  morning,  and  attempted  to  dress 
himself,  but  his  strength  failed,  and  with  it  the  power 
of  speech,  premonitory  of  the  extinction  of  the  \'ital 


BIOGRAPBnCAL    SKETCHES.  299 

principle.  He  lingered  until  the  afternoon  of  the  next 
day,  and  then  passed  onward  to  his  rest.  A  Discoui'se 
commemorative  of  his  life  and  character,  and  full  of 
the  most  interesting  details,  was  afterwards  preached 
at  Greensbui^g,  by  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Gill,  and  was  pub- 
lished. 

Dr.  Smith  was-  married,  in  1821,  to  a  daughter  ol 
John  Bell,  a  well-known  merchant  in  Winchester,  and 
a  greatly  respected  ruling  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  became  the  father  of  eight  children,  six 
of  whom,  with  their  mother,  survive  him.  One  of  his 
sons  is  a  Presbyterian  minister,  and  two  of  his  daugh- 
ters are  the  wives  of  ministers. 

Dr.  Smith  was  an  able  and  useful,  though  not  very 
voluminous,  writer.  Besides  numerous  contributions  to 
newspapers  and  other  periodicals,  he  published  Old 
Redstone,  or  Historical  Sketches  of  Western  Presbyteri- 
anism :  its  Early  Ministers,  its  Perilous  Times,  and  its 
First  Records;  and  the  History  of  Jefferson  College. 
Both  these  works  are  carefully  and  elaborately  written ; 
and  w^hile  they  are  of  great  historical  interest  anywhere, 
to  the  Presbyterians  of  Western  Pennsylvania  they 
must  be  invaluable. 

From  the  sketch  of  Dr.  Smith's  life  now  given,  it  is 
ap2:>arent  that  his  ministry  w^as  marked  by  an  unusual 
succession  of  changes.  In  a  letter  w^ritten  by  himself, 
from  which  most  of  the  matei'ial  for  this  sketch  has 
been  di*awai,  thei'e  is  the  following  statement  with  i-ef- 
erence  to  this  remarkable  feature  of  his  life:  "Thus 
you  see  ^vhat  a  sojourner  I  have  been,  having  lived  and 
labored  in  four  different  States.  To  explain  the  reasons 
which  led  to  all  these  changes  would  weary  my  pa- 


300  PRESBTTEUIAX   CHURCH. 

tience, — much  more  yours.  Oue  thing  I  can  say  ^v-ith 
satisfaction,  —  I  have  never  had  any  trouble  or  difficulty 
with  any  congregation.  I  have  left  no  place  where  I 
had  any  reason  to  believe  they  were  tired  of  me,  —  no 
place  that  I  cannot  now  visit  with  mutual  satisfaction, 
as  I  am  firmly  persuaded.  And  it  has  always  seemed 
to  me  that  my  way  was  distinctly  cleared  before  me  by 
the  good  hand  of  our  God.  The  Lord  has  given  me 
the  privilege  and  honor  of  raising  up  to  comparative 
strength  and  indejDendence  several  chui'ches,  in  every 
instance  doubling  the  numbers  of  their  membership, 
and  the  still  greater  privilege  of  healing  breaches,  re- 
moving schisms  and  divisions,  and  restoring  harmony. 
Yet  the  review  of  the  long  and  scattered  character  of 
my  ministerial  life  teaches  me  some  very  humbling 
lessons." 

Dr.  Smith  was  a  man  not  only  of  varied  experience, 
but  of  pui'e  and  elevated  character.  A  stranger,  on 
meeting  him,  could  not  help  forming  the  opinion,  from 
his  countenance  and  manner,  that  he  was  not  only  a 
highly  intellectual,  but  genial  and  amiable,  man ;  and 
this  impression  was  sure  to  be  justified  and  confirmed 
by  a  subsequent  acquaintance.  Perhaps  no  one  of  his 
intellectual  powers  was  more  prominent  than  his  judg- 
ment. His  views  of  men  and  things,  where  he  had  had 
very  slight  opportunities  for  observation,  he  rarely  had 
occasion  to  change,  upon  any  subsequent  enlargement 
of  his  knowledge.  He  ^vas  always  a  diligent  student, 
and  his  mind  l>ecame  a  vast  storehouse  of  varied  infor- 
mation, whicli  he  Avas  ever  ready  to  dispense  as  he  had 
opportunity.  But,  ^vith  liis  extensive  acquisitions,  he 
was  modest  and  unpretending,  and  never  uttered  a  sen- 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  301 

tence  for  the  sake  of  self-glorification.  His  Christian 
character  was  at  once  consistent  and  decided.  With 
great  fervor  of  spirit  he  combined  a  discreet  and, 
thoughtful  habit  of  speaking  and  acting,  thus  render- 
ing his  influence  both  safe  and  pure.  As  a  Preacher,  he 
could  perhaps  scarcely  be  considered  a  favorite  with 
the  multitude;  but  to  the  more  reflecting  and  judicious 
his  clear  and  logical  exhibitions  of  Divine  truth  were 
always  most  acceptable.  He  was  a  vigorous  helper  in 
all  ecclesiastical  proceedings,  perfectly  familiar  with  all 
the  forms  of  business,  and  able,  sometimes,  by  his 
timety  suggestions,  to  meet  difficulties  that  seemed 
well-nigh  insuperable.  At  the  same  time,  he  laiew 
how  to  treat  an  opponent  mth  the  utmost  courtesy, 
often  disarming  him  by  kindness ;  and  while  nothing 
could  induce  him  to  make  the  slightest  sacrifice  of  prin- 
ciple, neither  could  he  needlessly  put  at  hazard  the 
peace  of  the  Church.  And  the  brightest  attribute  of 
his  character  was,  that  he  was  an  eminent  saint :  he 
lived  habitually  under  the  influence  of  the  powei's  of 
the  world  to  come ;  and  when  he  passed  away,  all  who 
knew  him  felt  the  fullest  assm-ance  that  he  had  gone  to 
receive  the  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away. 

WILLIAM  W.  PHILLIPS,  D.D. 

William  Wirt  PmLLiPS  was  born  in  Florida,  Mont- 
gomery County,  N.Y.,  on  the  23d  of  September,  1796. 
His  father  was  bom  in  England,  and  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  countiy  while  he  Avas  yet  a  boy,  and  the 
family  still  occupy  the  place  where  they  originally  set- 
tled, and  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born. 
Having  gone  through  his  preparatory  course,  he  was 


302  PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCU. 

admitted,  in  due  time,  to  Union  College,  where  lie  grad 
uated,  in  1813,  when  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age. 
Shortly  after  his  graduation,  he  became  a  member  of 
the  Associate  Reformed  Theological  Seminary  in  New 
York,  at  the  head  of  which  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  M 
Mason.  After  completing  a  three-years  coiu'se  of  study 
at  this  institution,  he  spent  a  year  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  New  Bruns 
wick,  under  the  instruction  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  H.  Liv- 
ingston. He  was  licensed  to  preach,  by  the  Classis  of 
New  Brunsmck,  but,  shortly  after,  transferred  his  rela- 
tion to  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  received  a  call 
from  the  Pearl  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  in  New 
York,  which  he  accepted,  and  in  April,  1818,  was  or- 
dained and  installed  as  its  pastor,  by  the  New  York 
Presbytery.  Here  he  continued  a  most  useful  and  ac- 
ceptable pastor  for  eight  years,  when  he  was  translated 
to  the  Fii'st  Presbyterian  Church,  then  Avorshipping  in 
Wall  Street.  Tliis  church  was,  in  due  time,  removed  to 
what  was  then  the  upper  part  of  the  city ;  and,  after  the 
new  edifice  was  built,  he  continued  to  occuj)y  it  till  near 
the  close  of  life.  Though  he  had  been  for  several  years 
the  subject  of  a  j)ainful  chronic  disease,  he  still  con- 
tinued actively  engaged  in  the  duties  of  the  ministry 
until  mthin  about  four  weeks  of  his  death.  He  died 
on  the  20th  of  March,  1865,  after  having  been  a  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel  forty-seven  years.  The  Address  at  his 
funeral  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Krebs,  with 
whom  lie  had  long  been  in  the  most  intimate  relations, 
and,  on  the  next  Sabbath,  followed  a  Commemorative 
Discourse  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Richard  W.  Dickinson. 
Both  the  Addi-ess   and   the  Discourse  j^resented  very 


BIOGEAPHICAIi    SKETCHES.  303 

felicitously  the  character  they  were  designed  to  com- 
memorate. 

The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  uj)on 
Mr.  Phillips  by  Columbia  College,  in  1826,  when  he 
was  only  thirty  years  of  age.  He  was  a  Trustee  of  the 
College  of  New  Jersey,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  the  New  York  University.  He  was  both  a  Trustee 
and  a  Director  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton, 
and  of  the  Board  of  Directors  he  was  President.  He 
was  Chaii-man  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions,  and,  during  several  of  his  last  years, 
was  President  of  that  Board  also.  He  was  often  a 
member  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  in  1835  was  its 
Moderator.  The  services  devolved  upon  him  by  these 
various  offices  were  immerous  and  onerous ;  but  he 
adapted  himself  to  each  with  apparently  as  deep  an 
interest  as  if  it  had  been  the  sole  work  to  which  he  was 
designated. 

Dr.  Phillips  was  married,  in  1818,  to  Frances  Sy- 
mington, daughter  of  James  and  Frances  (Evans) 
Symington,  of  the  city  of  New  York.  They  were  the 
parents  of  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom,  with  their 
mother,  still  survive. 

Dr.  Phillips  was  a  fii*mly  built  man,  "with  a  face  indi- 
cating thoughtfulness  and  gravity  rather  than  an  ex- 
citable temperament.  So  admirably  blended  were  his 
intellectual  and  moral  powers  that  it  were  impossible 
to  do  justice  to  the  one  -without  including  also  some 
estimate  of  the  other.  Among  the  more  prominent  of 
the  faculties  of  his  mind  was  a  calm  and  sound  judg- 
ment, that  rarely  mistook  in  respect  to  any  matter  on 
which  it  was  called  to  exercise  itself.    He  was  naturally 


304  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

of  a  quiet  and  retmng  habit,  and  never  obtruded  liim 
self  in  any  circumstances,  while  yet  he  was  alway.s 
prompt  to  obey  the  call  of  duty,  even  at  the  expense  of 
placing  himself  in  an  attitude  of  antagonism  towards 
others.  His  religion  moulded  his  whole  character  and 
diffused  itself  over  his  whole  life.  In  prosperity  his 
heart  glowed  with  thankfulness,  and  in  adversity  he 
was  not  only  submissive  and  trustful,  but  was  calling 
gratefidly  to  remembrance  the  blessings  that  still  re- 
mained to  him.  In  his  family  his  presence  was  constant 
sunshine.  Among  the  people  of  his  charge  he  moved 
about  as  a  good  angel,  intent  on  carrying  blessings  in 
his  train ;  and  whether  they  were  in  sorro\v  or  in  joy, 
the  fitting  words  of  counsel  were  always  upon  his  lips. 
In  the  pulpit  there  was  nothing  about  him  of  a  sensa- 
tional or  startling  character,  but  he  was  a  model  of 
simplicity  and  fervor,  and  brought  out  the  great  truths 
of  tlie  gospel  in  a  luminous  and  impressive  manner. 
His  good  influence  was  felt,  not  only  in  every  circle  in 
which  he  moved,  but  througliout  the  whole  Chui-ch ;  for 
Providence  placed  him  in  various  responsible  stations, 
and  few  of  his  contemporaries  had  more  to  do  in  mould- 
ing the  destinies  of  the  denomination  with  which  he 
was  connected  than  himself.  If  others  have  possessed 
cliaracters  more  attractive  to  the  multitude,  his  was  one 
that  must  always  be  gratefully  remembered  for  the 
harmonious  combination  of  the  good  qualities  that  com- 
posed it. 

JOSEPH    H.  JONES,  D.D. 

The  fatlier  of  Josei'ii  Huts^tington  Jones,  was  Am- 
asa  Jones,  and  liis  motlier  was  a  dauQ^hter  of  the  Rev, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  305 

Dr.  Josei^Ii  Huntington,  author  of  the  work  which  at- 
tracted much  attention  in  its  day,  entitled  "  Calvinism 
Improved."  He  (the  son)  was  born  at  Coventry,  Conn., 
the  residence  of  his  parents,  on  the  24th  of  August, 
1797.  In  1810,  he  began  to  prepare  for  college  at 
Coventry;  but  on  the  removal  of  the  Eev.  Abiel  Abbott, 
under  whom  he  had  previously  studied,  to  Bj^field,' 
Mass.,  to  become  Preceptor  of  Dummer  Academy,  he 
quickly  followed,  and  spent  somewhat  more  than  a 
year  under  his  instruction.  He  entered  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, in  1813,  on  the  day  that  completed  his  fifteenth 
year.  Here  he  had  a  highly  respectable  standing,  and 
graduated  ^^ath  honor,  in  1817.  Among  his  classmates 
were  George  Bancroft,  Caleb  Cushing,  George  B.  Emer- 
son, Dr.  Tyng,  and  othei's,  v/ho  have  impressed  them- 
selves indelibly  on  our  ci\dl  or  religious  institutions. 

Shortly  after  his  graduation,  he  accepted  a  tutorship 
in  Bowdoin  College,  and  held  the  office  for  a  year. 
During  his  residence  at  Caml^ridge,  Jie  had  fallen  in  with 
the  current  of  religious  thought  that  prevailed  there, 
and  had  become  a  decided  Unitarian;  but,  on  going 
to  BrunsAvick,  and  becoming  associated  mth  President 
Appletou  and  some  of  the  professors  and  tutors,  whose 
views  were  thoroughly  orthodox,  he  was  led  to  re-exam- 
ine the  system  which  he  had  adopted  at  Cambridge, 
and  the  result  was  that  he  rejected  it  altogether.  This,' 
however,  did  not  occasion  any  interruption  of  his  j^leas- 
ant  relations  with  his  Harvard  friends;  and  of  the 
generous  qualities  and  kind  offices  of  some  of  them  he 
never  grew  weary  of  speaking  as  long  as  he  lived. 

In  1819,  he  removed  to  Wilkesbarre,  Penn.,  where  his 
father's  family  had  l^ecome  settled,  and  took  charo-e  of 


306  PEESBTTERIAX    CUUECH. 

the  academy  in  that  place.  His  mind,  meanwhile,  had 
taken  a  thoroughly  serious  direction,  and  he  not  only 
indulged  the  hope  that  he  had  been  born  from  above, 
hut  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  idea  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  become  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel.  In  this  state 
of  mind  he  actually  entered  on  his  theological  studies, 
under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Cyrus  Gildersleeve. 

In  1822,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the 
Susquehanna  Presbytery,  and  subsequently  spent  three 
months  as  a  supply  at  Montrose,  the  capital  of  Susque- 
hanna County.  While  at  Montrose,  he  was  invited  to 
Union,  Broome  County,  N.Y.,  and  here  also  he  spent 
three  months,  and  declined  an  earnest  request  to  settle 
there  as  pastor.  In  the  the  spring  of  1823  he  joined 
the  Princeton  Seminary,  and  remained  there  about  a 
year,  thougli,  during  one  of  his  vacations  he  went  on  a 
mission  to  Erie  Kun,  and  there  declined  another  invita- 
tion to  settle  in  the  ministry.  In  1824,  he  w^as  ordained 
by  the  Susquehanna  Presbytery,  and  immediately  after 
took  his  dismission  to  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
and  became  a  supply  for  the  church  at  Woodbury,  N.J. 

In  1825,  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Chui'ch  in  New  Brunswick,  N.J.  He  accepted 
tlie  call,  and  was  installed  on  the  28th  of  July,  when 
he  had  not  fully  recovered  from  an  attack  of  bilious 
fever.  Here  he  remained,  laboring  faithfully  and  suc- 
cessfully among  his  people,  until  1838,  when  he  was 
called  to  be  the  pastor  of  the  Spruce  Street  Chm*ch,  in 
Philadelphia,  —  the  same  church  ^viih  which  Dr.  Neill 
had  been  connected,  pre^uous  to  his  removal  to  Dicldn- 
son  College. 

In  1842,  Mr.  Jones  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  307 

Divinity  from  Lafayette  College,  and,  in  1855,  was 
honored  in  a  similar  way  by  Harvard  University. 

Dr.  Jones  continued  tlie  pastor  of  the  Spruce  Street 
Chui'ch  about  twenty -three  years,  and  discharged  the 
duties  of  his  office  with  exemplary  diligence  and  fidel 
ity.  In  1853,  he  was  appointed  a  Trustee  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  very  soon  became  deeply  interested  in 
the  Fmid  for  Disabled  Ministers.  He,  however,  re- 
tained his  pastoral  charge  until  May,  1861,  when  he 
retired  from  it,  and  devoted  the  residue  of  his  life  to  a 
course  of  effort  designed  to  relieve  his  suffering  breth- 
ren. In  this  cause  he  labored  most  earnestly  and  faith- 
fully, and  no  doubt  the  blessing  of  many  ready  to  perish 
came  upon  him.  He  died  so  suddenly  that  the  tidings 
of  his  death  shocked  the  whole  community.  He  had 
just  returned  from  New  York,  apparently  in  his  usual 
health  and  spirits,  but  was  attacked  the  same  evening 
mth  a  malady,  which,  though  it  seemed,  after  a  few 
hours,  to  yield  to  treatment,  returned  upon  him  before 
morning  with  a  fatal  power.  He  died  on  the  2 2d  of 
December,  1868,  in  the  seventy-second  year  of  his 
age.  Several  of  the  ministers  with  whom  he  had  been 
associated  delivered  commemorative  addresses  at  his 
funeral. 

Dr.  Jones  was  married,  in  October,  1825,  to  Anna 
Maria  Howell,  daughter  of  Joshua  L.  and  Anna  B. 
HoAvell,  at  Fancy  Hill,  Gloucester  County,  N.J.  They 
had  five  children,  only  three  of  whom  survive.  Mrs. 
Jones  died  in  January,  1865. 

Besides  several  occasional  Sermons,  Dr.  Jones  pub- 
lished the  follo^ving:  An  account  of  the  Kevival  at 
New  Brunswick ;  Influence  of  Physical  Causes  on  Re- 


308  PRESBYTERIAN    CIIURCIT. 

ligious  Experience ;  Life  of  Aslibel  Green,  D.D. ;  and 
Memoir  of  Dr.  Cuyler. 

Dr.  Jones  was  ratlier  under  tlie  medium  size,  tliougli, 
on  the  whole,  a  well-formed  man,  and  possessing  the 
usual  degree  of  bodily  vigor.  His  face  was  a  fair  index 
to  some  of  the  f eatui'es  of  his  character :  it  indicated 
great  kindness,  with  a  tinge  of  melancholy ;  and  these 
were  the  qualities  for  which  he  was  especially  distin- 
guished. His  natural  sympathy  with  human  want  and 
wi'etchedness,  sanctified,  as  it  was,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
rendered  him  eminently  fit  for  the  position  he  occupied 
in  connection  with  the  Fund  for  Disabled  Ministers. 
Not  only  did  his  benevolent  spirit  prompt  him  to  ex- 
plore thoroughly  the  various  parts  of  the  Chui'ch,  to  find 
out  the  proper  subjects  of  this  form  of  charity,  but  also 
to  gather  means  sufficient  to  meet  the  varied  exigences 
that  ^vere  made  known  to  him.  In  his  ordinary  inter- 
com'se  he  was  cheerful,  and  sometimes  even  buoyant; 
but  occasionally  he  had  tm-ns  of  deep  depression,  occa- 
sioned by  a  withdrawal,  to  a  great  extent,  of  the  evi- 
dences of  the  Divine  favor.  It  was  this  proclivity  to 
gloom,  no  doubt,  that  suggested  to  him  the  writing  of 
his  admirable  work  on  the  Influence  of  Physical  Causes 
on  Religious  Experience ;  a  work  that  has  abeady  done 
much,  and  is  destined  to  do  more,  in  guiding  darkened 
spirits  into  the  light  of  heavenly  truth.  As  a  Preacher, 
there  was  nothing  about  him  to  awaken  the  applauses 
of  the  multitude,  but  there  was  much  in  his  discourses 
for  the  thoughtful  and  earnest  mind  to  feed  upon,  — 
much  that  could  be  carried  away  as  material  for  lasting 
edification  and  comfort.  As  a  Pastor,  he  showed  no  re- 
spect of  persons ;  the  high  and  the  low,  the  rich  and  the 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  309 

poor,  came  equally  witliin  the  range  of  his  attention©. 
In  his  more  general  relations  to  the  Church,  he  mani- 
fested great  consideration,  and  good  sense  and  regard 
to  the  Presbyterian  standards,  while  yet  he  was  watch- 
ful for  the  promotion  of  harmony  among  brethren. 
He  was  universally  esteemed  and  honored  while  living, 
and  the  generations  to  come  "will  take  care  that  his 
memory  does  not  die. 

WILLLOtl  M.  EXGLES,  D.D. 

William  Moreison"  Engles,  a  son  of  Silas  and  Aniiie 
(Patterson)  Engles,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  October 
12,  1797.  He  passed  his  early  days  at  home,  enjoying 
the  best  advantages  of  education  which  the  city  afforded. 
In  due  time  he  became  a  member  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  where,  notwithstanding  he  ^^as  among 
the  younger  members  of  his  class,  he  graduated,  in  181 5, 
with  one  of  the  highest  honors.  After  studying  Theol- 
ogy for  three  yeai-s,  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Samuel 
B.  Wylie,  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church,  he  was 
licensed  to  preach,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelj^hia, 
in  October,  1818.  Shortly  after  his  licensure,  he  set 
out  on  a  missionary  tour  in  the  Valley  of  Wyoming, 
where  his  fresh  and  earnest  preaching  is  said  to  have 
produced  a  powerful  impression. 

Having  performed  the  missionary  service  allotted  to 
him,  he  retui-ned  to  Philadelphia,  and  on  the  6th  of 
July,  1820,  was  ordained  and  installed  Pastor  of  the 
Seventh  Presbyterian  Church,  which  had  pre\^ously 
existed  as  a  colony  of  English  Inde2:)endents,  but  had 
shortly  before,  omng  to  various  circumstances,  become 
connected  vdth  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.     He 


310  PRESBYTEKLiN    CHURCH. 

continued  in  this  relation  until  September,  1834,  Avlien, 
on  account  of  an  affection  of  the  throat,  he  was  obliged 
to  discontinue  public  speaking,  and  therefore  resigned 
his  pastoral  charge.  The  chui'ch  enjoyed  a  good  degree 
of  prosperity  under  his  ministry,  and  if  its  numbers  did 
not  increase  dui^ing  the  latter  years,  it  was  attributable 
to  cii'cumstances  over  which  he  had  no  control. 

About  the  time  that  his  connection  with  his  congre- 
gation closed,  Dr.  James.  W.  Alexander  was  just  retir- 
ing from  the  editorship  of  the  Presbyterian.  That 
paper  then  came  under  the  direction  of  Mr,  Engles ;  and 
though,  at  different  periods,  he  shared  the  labor  and 
responsibility  with  several  other  individuals,  his  con- 
nection with  it  as  editor  continued  throusrh  the  lono; 
period  of  thirty-three  years.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Grier,  who 
was  associate  editor  with  him  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
has  rendered  the  highest  testimony  to  the  good  taste, 
and  good  judgment,  and  good  sj)irit,  with  which  he 
prosecuted  his  work. 

In  May,  1838,  he  was  appointed  Editor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Board  of  Publication,  and  he  held  that  impor- 
tant position,  discharging  its  duties  mth  great  fidelity, 
twenty -five  years.  In  1840,  he  was  chosen  Moderator 
of  the  General  Assembly,  and  the  same  year  was  ap- 
pointed Stated  Clerk.  The  latter  ofiice  he  held  until 
1846. 

Dr.  Engles  (for  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Di\dnity  was 
conferred  upon  him  in  1838)  had,  for  a  considerable 
time,  been  su1)ject  to  occasional  turns  of  illness,  wliich 
medical  skill  could  not  avert,  and  which  proved  to  l)e 
an  obscure  affection  of  the  heai't.  The  last  attack  was 
accompanied  with  congestion  of  the  lungs,  which  left 


BIOGEAPinCAL    SKETCHES.  311 

little  doubt  of  a  fatal  issue.  While  lie  was?  willing  to 
submit  to  whatever  medical  treatment  might  be  thought 
best,  he  had  the  fullest  conviction  that  his  hour  had 
nearly  come ;  but  he  was  perfectly  tranquil  and  submis- 
sive in  the  prospect,  not  doubting  that  it  would  be  gain 
for  him  to  depart.  He  died  on  the  27th  of  November, 
1867,  when  he  had  just  completed  his  seventieth  yea.!'. 

He  was  married,  in  1836,  to  Charlotte  Schott,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Schott,  of  Philadelphia,  who  survives  him. 
They  had  no  children. 

The  followini?  is  an  extract  from  the  record  of  the 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication,  in  reference  to  his 
death :  — 

"  Tlie  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication  is  probably  more  largely 
indebted  to  Dr.  Engles,  than  to  any  other  man,  for  its  existence  and 
its  early  influence.  He  was  one  of  the  first  half-dozen  men  who 
clearly  perceived  the  necessity  for  such  an  institution,  and  who  met 
to  take  counsel  together  in.  reference  to  its  formation.  In  all  the  in- 
cipient measures  which  led  to  its  organization,  and  afterwards  to  its 
adoption  and  reorganization  by  the  General  Asseml^ly,  he  took  a  pro- 
minent part.  He  was  appointed,  at  the  very  beginning,  a  member 
of  its  Executive  Committee,  and  continued  to  serve  unintei-ruptedly 
in  that  capacity,  until  June,  18G3.  He  was  likewise  appointed  the 
first  editor  of  the  Board's  publications,  and  every  one  of  them  passed 
under  his  eye  and  hand  until  the  same  date.  In  the  following  year, 
after  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Phillips,  of  New  York,  President  of 
the  Board,  Dr.  Engles  was  selected  to  fill  the  vacant  chaii*.  This  he 
continued  to  do  with  dignity,  and  Christian  courtesy,  and  warm 
regard  to  the  Board's  intei-ests,  till  liis  removal  by  death. 

"  His  usefulness  in  connection  with  this  Board,  the  Churcli  can 
never  fully  appreciate.  His  sound  judgment  rarely  allowed  him  to 
fall  into  a  mistake.  His  extensive  reading,  and  his  thorough  and 
discriminating  orthodoxy,  placed  upon  the  Board's  catalogue  a  lai-ge 
variety  of  the  most  approved  Calvinistic  books,  both  of  our  own 


312  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

country  and  of  Great  Britain,  yet  kept  its  list,  to  a  remarkable  de- 
gree, free  from  all  admixture  of  error.  A  lai-ge  number  of  old  and 
valuable  works,  which  had  become  nearly  extinct  because  of  their 
cumbrous  style,  were  revised  and  abridged  by  him,  and  have  had  an 
extensive  circulation  and  usefulness  in  eveiy  part  of  the  land.  He 
was  also  himself  the  author  of  a  large  number  of  valuable  books  and 
tracts,  nearly  all  of  which  were  published  anonymously.  Among 
them  /Sick  Hooni  Devotions  has  carried  light  and  comfort  to  thou- 
sands of  chambers  of  sickness.  His  little  work,  7'Ae  Soldier's  JPocket- 
Hook^  of  which  nearly  three  hundred  thousand,  in  English  and  Ger- 
man, were  circulated  among  our  soldiers  during  the  war,  achieved  an 
untold  and  unspeakable  amount  of  good." 

Dr.  Eugles  enjoyed,  in  a  liigli  degree,  tlie  confidence 
and  regard  of  every  community  in  wliicli  lie  lived.  He 
liad  a  well-built,  symmetrical  frame,  and  a  face  indicative 
of  tliouglitfulness  and  dignity,  rather  tliau  anything 
bi'illiant  or  startling.  He  was  not  impulsive  but  cau- 
tious and  discreet,  and  I'arely  took  a  step  or  suggested 
a  measure  which  the  circumstances  did  not  justify.  In 
the  pulpit,  he  was  simple  and  natural  and  edifying  in 
all  his  deliverances.  On  questions  of  church  polity,  he 
manifested  great  wisdom ;  and  while  he  was  earnest  for 
what  he  believed  to  be  the  truth,  he  was  far  from  in- 
dulging a  censorious  spirit.  Everywhere  he  showed 
himself  under  the  influence  of  a  living  piety,  and  all  • 
who  saw  him  took  knowledge  of  him  that  he  had  been 
•with  Jesus. 

JOHN  K  c a:\ipbell,  d.d. 
John  N.  Ca:mpbell  was  born,  of  highly  resj^ectal^le 
parentage,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  on  tlie  4tli  of 
March,  1708.     His  maternal  grandfather,  Eobert  Ait- 
ken,   was    the    publisher    of    the    first   edition  of   the 


BIOGEAPinCAL    SKETCHES.  313 

Bible  in  this  country.  He  was  baptized  by  the  Rev. 
Robert  Annan,  minister  of  the  old  Scott's  Presby- 
terian Chui'ch,  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  connection 
mth  that  chm*ch  he  had  his  early  training.  He  was 
for  some  time  a  pupil  of  that  celebrated  teacher, 
James  Ross,  and  afterwards  became  a  member  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  though  his  name  does  not 
appear  on  the  catalogue  of  graduates.  After  studying 
Theology,  for  some  time,  under  the  dii'ection  of  the  Rev. 
Ezra  Stiles  Ely,  he  went  to  Virginia,  Avhere  he  continued 
his  theological  studies,  and  became  connected,  as  teacher 
of  languages,  mth  Hampden  Sydney  College.  He  was 
licensed  to  jireach,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  in 
May,  1817,  when  he  was  about  nineteen  years  of  age. 

The  first  two  or  three  years  after  he  entered  the 
ministry  were  spent  chiefly  in  Virginia ;  but  in  the  an- 
tiunn  of  1820  he  was  chosen  chaplain  to  Congress;  and, 
notwithstanding  he  was  very  young  to  occupy  such  a 
place,  his  services  proved  highly  accejDtable.  He  after- 
wards returned  to  Virginia,  and  preached  for  some 
time  in  Petersburg ;  and  also  went  into  North  Carolina, 
and  was  instrumental  in  establishing  the  First  Presby- 
terian Chui"ch  in  Newbern.  In  1823,  he  went  again  to 
the  District  of  Columbia,  and,  for  more  than  a  year, 
was  an  assistant  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Balch,  of  Georgeto^vn. 
In  1824  or  25,  he  took  charge  of  the  New  York  Avenue 
Church,  in  Washington  City,  where  his  great  popular- 
ity quickly  filled  the  house.  In  January,  1825,  he  was 
elected  one  of  the  managers  of  the  American  Coloniza- 
tion Society,  and  for  six  years  discharged  the  duties  of 
the  place  ^dtli  great  ability  and  fidelity.  During  his 
residence  in  Washington,  he  made  the  acquaintance  of 


314        •  PREr.BYTEKIAI^    CIIURCn. 

many  of  the  most  distinguisLed  men  of  tlie  day,  among 
whom  was  the  illustrious  William  Wii't,  w4th  whom, 
for  some  time,  he  kept  up  a  correspondence.  It  was 
here  that  the  late  Ambrose  Spencer,  Chief -Justice  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  first  heard  him,  and  so  favoral^ly 
w^as  he  impressed  by  him,  both  as  a  preacher  and  a  man, 
that  he  recommended  him  as  a  suitable  person  to  take 
the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Fii'st  Presbyterian  congrega- 
tion in  Albany,  with  which  he  was  connected.  He  was 
accordingly  invited  to  preach  there  as  a  candidate,  and 
shortly  after  accepted  an  invitation  to  become  their 
Pastor,  and  was  actually  installed  in  September,  1831. 
The  services  were  rendered  especially  interesting  by  the 
fact  that  the  venerable  Dr.  Nott,  one  of  the  former 
pastors  of  that  church,  took  part  in  them. 

In  1835,  he  was  honored  with  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity,  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  In  1836, 
he  was  appointed  a  Dii-ector  of  the  Theological  Semin- 
ary at  Princeton,  and  held  the  office  till  the  close  of 
life.  He  very  rarely  attended  the  meetings  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  but  he  was  a  member  in  1856,  was 
nominated  for  the  office  of  Moderator,  and  came  veiy 
near  being  chosen.  He  occupied  his  o^^^l  pulpit  with  a 
degree  of  constancy  rarely  equalled,  being  scarcely  ever 
absent  from  it,  except  during  a  few  weeks  in  the  sum- 
mer, which  he  spent,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  at 
Lake  George.  His  large  executive  ability  devolved 
upon  him  many  duties  outside  of  his  immediate  profes- 
sion. He  was,  for  many  years,  one  of  the  Eegents  of  the 
University  of  the  State  of  New  York,  an  ofiice  ^vhich 
he  readily  accei:)ted,  on  account  of  its  intimate  connec- 
tion ^vith  educational  interests.      He  Avas  one  of  the 


BIOGEAPinCAL    SKETCHES.  315 

busiest  of  men,  and  yet  liis  habits  were  eminently  social, 
and  lie  could  always  command  time  to  devote  to  liis 
fi'iends. 

Dr.  Campbell's  habit  of  great  activity  continued  till 
near  the  close  of  life.  He  preached  with  his  usual  ani- 
mation and  interest  on  the  Sabbath  immediately  pre- 
ceding his  death,  and  there  was  nothing  to  betoken  the 
approach  of  any  serious  malady.  On  Monday,  he  was 
walking  the  streets  with  his  accustomed  vigor,  but,  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  day,  the  disease  of  which  he  died 
began  to  develop  itself.  It  did  not,  however,  take  on 
an  alarming  form  for  two  or  three  days ;  but,  in  the 
course  of  the  week,  it  became  doubtful  whether  it  was 
not  beyond  the  control  of  medical  skill.  On  Sunday 
morning,  just  as  his  congregation  were  assembling  for 
public  worship,  and  for  the  celebration  of  the  ordinance 
of  the  Supper,  the  startling  intelligence  went  forth  that 
their  Pastor  was  no  longer  among  the  living.  The 
whole  community  were  well-nigh  paralyzed,  as  the 
tidings  cii'culated  among  them.  He  died  on  the  27th 
of  March,  1864. 

Dr.  Camj)bell  was  twice  married.  His  fii'st  ^vife  was 
Miss  Bowling,  of  Petersbmg,  Va. ;  his  second,  who  is 
still  living,  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Tilden  Wilson,  of  Mary- 
land. 

Dr.  Campbell  was  somewhat  above  the  ordinary 
height,  of  a  slender  frame,  a  pallid  face,  and  a  general 
appearance  not  indicating  robust  health.  His  counte- 
nance and  ^vhole  manner,  however,  indicated  what  he 
actually  possessed,  —  great  energy  of  mind  and  decision 
of  character.  He  was  genial,  and  often  jo\aal,  in  his 
intercom-se,  and  was  almost  sui'e  to  be  a  commanding 


316  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

S])irit  in  any  social  circle  into  Avhich  lie  was  tlirown, 
lie  liacl  mingled  mucli  with  tlie  world,  and,  with  his 
uncommon  natui'al  shrewdness,  was  an  adept  in  the 
knowledge  of  human  natm-e.  He  saw  both  clearly  and 
(}uic]dy ;  and  when  his  mind  was  once  made  up  on  any 
su]:)ject,  though  he  could  still  consider  and  appreciate 
adverse  e\T.dence,  he  was  not  very  likely  to  yield  his 
first  conviction.  As  a  Preacher,  he  was  clear,  evangeli- 
cal, and  animated.  His  sermons  were  carefully  prepai-ed, 
and  written  in  a  character  that  was  scarcely  legible  to 
any  one  but  himself;  and  then  they  were  delivered 
with  a  graceful  ease  and  freedom,  which  made  them 
appear  to  those  who  listened,  as  if  they  were  the  pro- 
ductions of  the  moment.  They  wei-e  ^dthal  veiy  brief, 
and  logical,  and  easy  to  be  remembered.  He  had  but 
little  to  do  with  controversy  in  the  j^ulpit,  though  if 
there  were  any  errors,  that  seemed  to  him  especially 
palpable,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  ex]:)ose  them.  There 
was  an  air  of  lofty  indej^endence  pervading  all  his 
movements.  It  may  safely  be  said  that  he  feared  not 
tlie  face  of  man ;  and  his  plans  were  generally  success- 
ful, even  where  they  had  to  encounter  the  most  intense 
opposition.  Even  those  who  differed  from  him  still 
applauded  his  honesty. 

GEOKGE  POTTS,  D.D. 

George  Potts  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  George  Charles 
Potts,  who  emigrated  from  Ireland  to  this  country 
about  the  beginning  of  this  century,  and  of  IMary  En-' 
gles,  his  Avife,  and  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  the  place 
of  his  father's  settlement,  on  the  15tli  of  March,  1S02. 
He  studied  for  a  while,  under  the  Hev.  Dr.  James  Gray, 


BIOGRAPmCAL    SKETCHES. 


317 


and  then  under  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Wylie,  after 
which  he  was  transferred  to  the  Grammar  School  of 
the  University.     He  entered  the  University  at  the  age 
of  fourteen,  one  year  in  advance,  and  graduated  in  1819 ; 
the  third  in  his  class,  —  Robert  J.  Walker,  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury,  and  Hemy  D.  Gilpin,  Attorney-General, 
being  the  only  persons  occupying  a  higher  place.    After 
his  graduation,  he  spent  a  year  in  general  studies,  pre- 
paratory to  entering  the  Theological  Seminary.     He 
joined    the    Seminary   at    Princeton,    in    1820;    was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
at   Doylestown,  in   1822;    and  left  the  Seminary  at 
the  close  of  the  regular  course,  in  1823.     He  went  im- 
mediately to  Natchez,  on  the  invitation  of  the  Presby- 
terian  congregation   there,   and,   after    preaching    six 
weeks,  received  a  call  to  become  their  Pastor.     Ho  ac 
cepted  the  call,  and  returned  to  Philadelphia  for  ordi- 
nation, which  took  place  in  his  father's  church,  on  the 
9th  of  September,  1823.     Immediately  after  his  retui^n 
to  Natchez,  he  was  installed  Pastor  of  that  chui'ch,  and 
continued   there   twelve   years,   the    utmost   harmony 
existing  between  him  and  his  people  dming  the  ^vhole 
tune.     The  climate,  however,  by  this  time,  exerted  such 
an  enervating  influence  upon  him  that  he  found  it  neces- 
sary to  seek  a  northern  home.   Accordingly,  he  resigned 
his  charge,  and  shortly  after  received  an  invitation  to 
besome  Pastor  of  the  Duane  Street  Church,  New  York. 
This  call  he  did  not  at  first  accept,  on  the  ground  that 
he  was  umvilling  actually  to  leave  his  people  until  there 
was  a  fair  prospect  that  the  vacancy  would  be  speedily 
supplied.     The  call  was  subsequently  repeated,  and  he 
accepted  it,  on  condition  that  he  should  remain  with 


318  PRESBYTERIAN"    CHURCH. 

his  former  charge  till  the  opening  of  spring.  His  in 
stallation  at  New  York  took  place  in  May,  1836. 

Some  time  after  his  settlement  in  New  York,  he  be- 
came affected  with  the  bronchitis,  and  in  1838,  visited 
Europe  for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  The  same  year, 
he  was  honored  Avith  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity, 
from  the  University  of  New  York. 

In  1845,  he  resigned  the  charge  of  the  church  in 
Duane  Street,  and  on  the  25th  of  November  was  in- 
stalled Pastor  of  a  newly  gathered  church  in  Univer- 
sity Place.  He  continued  in  this  connection  till  the 
close  of  life. 

Dr.  Potts,  during  the  greater  part  of  his  ministry, 
enjoyed  vigorous  health.  Within  a  few  months  of  the 
close,  some  of  his  faculties  perceptibly  declined,  and  he 
was  at  length  induced  to  separate  himself  from  his  field 
of  labor,  in  the  hope  that  perfect  rest  might  effect  the 
desired  renovation.  In  parting  with  his  people,  uncer- 
tain, of  course,  whether  he  should  meet  them  again,  he 
addressed  to  them  a  letter,  in  which  were  condensed 
what  proved  to  be  his  last  counsels  and  admonitions, — 
a  letter  that  testifies,  in  the  strongest  manner,  of  his 
tenderness  and  fidelity.  After  having  been  absent  for 
?ome  time,  he  retui'ued  to  his  family,  but  returned  only 
to  die.  He  lingered  for  a  brief  period,  and  then  passed 
away,  amidst  floods  of  sorrow,  but  in  the  joyful  hope 
of  entering  into  rest.  He  died  on  the  15th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1864,  and,  at  liis  funeral,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Krebs,  his 
neighbor  and  friend,,  delivered  an  impressive  address. 

Dr.  Potts  was  married,  in  April,  1824,  to  ]\Iary 
Postlethwaite,  of  Natchez,  thereby  securing  to  himself 
the   highest   domestic  enjoyment.      They  became  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  319 

parents  of  nine  children,  only  four  of  whom  survive. 
One  of  the  sous,  the  Rev.  Ai'thui*  Potts,  is  Pastor  of  a 
Presbyterian  church  in  Morrisania,  N.Y. 

Dr.  Potts  was  a  Director  of  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Princeton,  and  a  member  of  the  Council  of  the  New 
York  University.  He  never  aspired  to  anything  in  the 
way  of  authorship,  having  published  only  a  few  occa- 
sional Sermons  and  Addi-esses. 

The  personal  appearance  of  Dr.  Potts  was  eminently 
imposing.  Of  commanding  stature,  being  not  less  than 
six  feet  and  two  or  three  inches  in  lieight,  and  every 
way  well  proportioned ;  with  a  countenance  ex|3ressive 
of  high  intelligence;  elastic  and  yet  dignified  in  his 
movements;  his  first  appearance  could  hardly  fail  to 
suggest  the  idea  of  superiority.  And  that  impression 
was  fully  justified  by  an  intimate  acquaintance  with 
him.  He  had  an  uncommonly  genial  temperament,  and 
Avithout  any  attempt  to  put  himself  forward,  he  was 
very  likely  to  be  recognized  as  the  commanding  spirit 
in  any  social  circle.  His  intellect,  naturally  of  a  high 
order,  had  been  subjected  to  the  most  careful  culture 
and  discipline,  and  there  was  scarcely  any  subject  of 
general  interest  w4th  which  he  had  not  made  himself 
familiar.  As  a  Preacher,  he  was  undoubtedly  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  attractive  of  his  day.  His  voice  was 
full  and  clear;  his  utterance  distinct  and  impressive; 
his  gestui'es  simple  and  graceful,  and  the  manifest 
promptings  of  nature ;  and  his  whole  manner  such  as 
was  best  fitted  to  give  effect  to  the  momentous  truths 
he  proclaimed.  There  was  in  his  preaching  a  ha2:)py 
admixtm-e  of  the  doctrinal  and  the  practical ;  he  never 
felt  that  he  had  done  with  any  truth  that  he  presented, 


820  PRESBYTERIAN    CIIUKCH. 

until  lie  liad  not  only  slio^^Ti  its  intellectual  bearing,  but 
had  brought  it  in  contact  with  the  conscience  and  tlie 
heart.  Though  his  sermons  were  generally  written,  he 
accustomed  himself,  especially  during  his  latter  year«, 
to  extemporaneous  speaking ;  and  he  has  been  heard  to 
say  that  he  had  more  fi'^edom  and  comfort  in  this  mode 
of  preaching  than  any  other.  The  interests  of  his  con- 
gregation seemed  ahvays  uppermost  in  his  thoughts; 
his  pastoral  visits  were  a  som*ce  of  mutual  enjoyment  to 
him  and  his  people ;  and  those  who  were  in  the  morning 
of  life  esjDecially  shared  most  largely  in  his  watchful 
regards.  Though  his  tastes  were  rather  for  a  life  of 
quietude  than  bustle,  he  was  by  no  means  destitute  of 
executive  ability,  nor  did  he  shrinli  from  taking  his 
share  in  guiding  and  moulding  the  destinies  of  the 
Church.  In  eveiy  relation  he  sustained,  his  pure  and 
noble  s2:)Li'it  was  impressively  exemplified. 

NICHOLAS  IiIURRAT,  D.D. 

Nicholas  Murray,  a  son  of  Nicholas  and  Judith 
(IMangum)  Muri'ay,  was  born  in  the  county  of  West- 
meath,  Ireland,  on  the  25th  of  December,  1802.  His 
father  was  a  man  of  considerable  influence  in  his  neigh- 
borhood, but  he  died  Avliile  this  son  was  in  eai'ly  child- 
hood. Both  his  parents  ^vere  in  the  communion  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church.  After  having  been  sent  to 
school  three  years,  —  from  the  age  of  nine  till  the  age 
of  twelve, — he  ^vas  apprenticed  as  a  merchant's  clerk, 
near  Edgeworthsto^vn ;  but,  on  account  of  the  unkind 
ti'eatment'he  received  there,  he  ran  away  and  returned 
home.  Though  his  mother  earnestly  advised  him  to 
return  to  the  23lace  lie  had  vacated,  he  persisted  in  re- 


^ 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  821 

fusing  to  do  so,  saying  tliat  lie  purposed  going  abroad 
into  the  world  to  seek  liis  ow^i  fortune. 

Accordingly,  in  1818,  lie  took  leave  of  his  native  coun 
try,  and  sailed  for  New  York,  Avhere,  on  his  arrival, 
he  found  himself  in  a  land  of  strangers  and  almost  pen 
niless.  After  looking  about  a  short  time  for  employ- 
ment, he  engaged  himself  as  a  proof-reader,  or  for  any 
other  service  of  which  he  was  capable,  to  those  well- 
known  publishers,  the  Harpers.  Up  to  this  time  his 
faith  in  the  religious  system  to  which  he  had  been 
trained  had  not  even  begun  to  falter ;  and  when,  through 
the  influence  of  one  of  his  associates,  who  afterwards 
became  a  Methodist  minister,  he  was  induced  to  read 
the  New  Testament,  and,  as  a  consequence,  renounced 
his  faith  in  Eomanism,  he  rejected  Christianity  alto- 
gether and  became  an  avowed  infidel.  At  the  sugges- 
tion of  some  young  men,  students  in  Dr.  Mason's  Semi- 
nary, with  whom  he  became  acquainted,  he  went  to  hear 
Dr.  Mason  preach ;  and  so  deeply  was  he  impressed  by 
the  sermon,  that  he  went  home  to  read  his  Bible  mth  a 
v'iew  to  entering  on  a  new  life.  Feeling  the  need  of 
some  one  to  counsel  him,  he  was  introduced  to  Dr. 
Spring,  who  cheerfully  became  his  spiritual  ad\dser, 
and,  after  about  a  year  and  a  half,  admitted  him  to  the 
communion  of  his  church. 

]\Ir.  Mui-ray,  as  he  had  the  opportunity  of  exhibiting 
his  talents  and  virtues,  began  to  attract  the  attention  of 
some  benevolent  indi\'iduals,  who  very  soon  proposed 
to  him,  to  lay  aside  the  ^vork  in  which  he  was  engaged, 
and,  at  their  expense,  to  begin  his  preparation  for  the 
Christian  ministry.  After  consideiing  the  generous 
proposal  for  some  little  time,  he  determined  to  accept 


322  PRESBYTERIAX    CnURCIT. 

it ;  and  lie  did  accept  it,  and  entered  upon  Ms  studies, 
without,  however,  altogether  relinquishing  at  once  his 
previous  occupation.  In  the  fall  of  1821  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Amherst  Academy,  where  he  completed 
his  preparation  for  college.  He  entered  Williams  Col- 
lege in  1822,  and  graduated  in  1826,  being  the  whole 
time  under  the  presidency  of  Dr.  Griffin,  who  continued 
through  life  his  fast  friend,  and  whose  character  was 
the  object  of  his  intense  admiration. 

After  leaving  college,  he  was  very  successfully  em- 
ployed, for  a  short  time,  as  agent  of  the  American  Tract 
Society,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  oi  New  York, 
and  then  became  a  member  of  the  Theological  Seminaiy 
at  Princeton.  At  the  close  of  a  year,  in  consequence  of 
pecuniary  embarrassment,  he  resumed  his  agency  under 
the  Tract  Society,  making  Philadelphia  the  scene  of  his 
labors.  Here  he  established  a  Branch  Tract  Society, 
and  acted  as  its  secretaiy  for  eighteen  months;  and 
then  he  resumed  his  place  in  the  Seminary,  having  kept 
along  A^ath  the  studies  of  his  class  dming  the  whole 
period  of  his  absence.  The  compensation  which  he  re- 
ceived for  his  labors  enabled  him  to  complete  his  theo- 
loOTcal  course  without  further  embarrassment. 

Mr.  ^Iiu-ray  was  licensed  to  preach,  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia,  in  April,  1828.  After  preaching 
a  short  time  Avith  great  acceptance  in  Morristo^vn,  he 
engaged  as  a  Domestic  Missionary,  and,  at  the  sugges- 
tion of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Engles,  of  Philadelphia,  went  to 
Wilkesbarre,  where  the  Piesbyterian  Church  was  with- 
out a  jiastor.  Here  he  preached  for  a  short  time  as  a 
candidate,  and  tlien  received  a  call,  whicli  he  accepted. 
He  was  ordained  and  installed  in  November,  1829. 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  323 

In  tlie  autumn  of  1832,  he  attended  tlie  meeting  of 
llie  Synod  of  New  Jersey  at  Morristo^vn,  and,  by  ap 
poiatment,  preached  a  sermon  on  Domestic  Missions. 
His  congregation  at  Wilkesbarre  were  then  engaged  in 
building  a  church ;  and  he  asked  Dr.  McDowell,  of 
Elizabethtown,  if  his  people  would  not  listen  to  an  ap- 
plication to  assist  them  in  the  enterprise.  Dr.  McDowell 
replied,  that  if  he  would  come  to  Elizabethto^svu,  and 
repeat  the  sermon  that  he  had  preached  before  the  Sy- 
nod, he  doubted  not  that  something  might  be  done. 
Mr.  Murray,  accordingly,  went  and  preached,  and  ob- 
tained a  liberal  contribution  to  his  object.  When  that 
congregation  became  vacant,  by  the  removal  of  Dr.  Mc- 
Dowell to  Philadelphia,  the  next  year,  Mr.  MuiTay  re- 
ceived a  unanimous  call  to  become  his  successor.  He 
accepted  the  call,  and  was  installed  in  July,  1833.  He 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  fi-om  the 
college  at  which  he  graduated,  in  1843. 

Dr.  Murray's  noble  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  ren- 
dered him  an  object  of  attraction  to  several  of  the  most 
prominent  churches  in  the  land.  He  had  calls,  at  dif 
ferent  times,  from  Boston,  Brookljm,  Charleston,  S.C., 
Natchez,  St.  Louis,  and  Cincinnati ;  but  he  preferred  to 
occupy  the  field  in  which  Providence  had  already  placed 
him.  He  was  appointed  to  a  Professorship  in  two  The- 
ological Seminaries,  but  in  both  instances  declined  the 
appointment.  In  1849,  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Chui'ch  conferred  upon  him  one  of  its 
highest  honors,  by  choosing  him  its  Moderator. 

Tmce  in  his  latter  years  Dr.  Murray  crossed  the 
ocean,  and  travelled  extensively,  not  only  in  England 
Scotland,  and  Ireland,  but  on  the  continent  of  Europe, 


324  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

These  \^sits  brought  him  in  contact  with  many  of  the 
most  illustrious  minds  of  the  day.  The  high  reputation 
that  had  preceded  him  secured  to  him  a  cordial  wel- 
come, and  his  fine  powers,  and  genial  manner,  and 
earnest  piety,  to  say  nothing  of  his  remarkable  histoiy, 
fully  justified  the  best  things  that  had  been  said  of 
him.  It  may  safely  be  said  that  few  American  clergy- 
men have  found  more  ready  access  to  the  best  Eui'opean 
society,  or  have  left  behind  them  a  more  honored  name 
than  did  Dr.  Mm-ray. 

When  he  had  nearly  reached  his  threescore  years, 
his  ^^gor  had  not  begmi  perceptibly  to  wane,  and  there 
was  nothing  visible  to  indicate  that  he  was  not  destined 
to  many  years  more  of  active  usefulness.  But,  notwith- 
standing these  hopeful  appearances,  the  time  of  his  de- 
parture Avas  at  hand.  Accustomed  to  pay  an  annual 
visit  to  a  friend  in  Albany,  he  had  actually  made  his 
preparations  for  the  journey,  when  he  was  seized  \nth 
the  malady  which,  in  a  few  days,  changed  him  into  a 
corpse.  In  the  full  possession  of  his  faculties,  he  uttered 
words  of  counsel  and  comfort  to  those  around  him,  and 
passed  away  in  the  joyful  hope  of  being  admitted  to 
the  communion  of  the  ransomed  in  Heaven.  He  died 
on  the  11th  of  February,  1861. 

Dr.  Murray  was  married,  in  the  year  1830,  to 
Eliza  J.,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Morgan  Eeese,  a  distin- 
guished Baptist  clergyman,  who  emigrated  from  Wales, 
and  settled  in  Philadelphia.  They  became  the  parents 
of  ten  cliildren,  only  four  of  Avhom  now  survive.  The 
two  sons  have  been  graduated  at  AVilliams  College,  one 
of  whom  is  a  laAVj^er,  the  other  in  a  course  of  prepara- 
tion for  the  ministry. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  325 

Dr.  Murray's  character,  intellectual,  moral,  religious, 
^7as  well  formed  and  eminently  attractive.     His  mind 
was  comprehensive  and  logical,  and  always  reached  its 
conclusions  by  a  luminous  process.     He  had  the  common 
birthright  of  his  countrymen,—  an  exuberance  of  wit, 
which  lie  dealt  out  in  the  form  of  mii'thful  pleasantry, 
or  cutting  sarcasm,   as  occasion  required.      His  heart 
was  the  natural  dwelling-place  of  generous  pm^poses  and 
kindly  feelings,  and  perfect  sincerity  breathed  in  all  his 
utterances.    His  presence  was  always  an  element  of  pleas- 
ui-e  in  the  social  circle ;  for  he  could  accommodate  him- 
self with  great  facility  to  every  variety  of  intellect  and 
every  shade  of  character.     As  a  Christian,  he  was  thor- 
oughly grounded  in  the  truth,  stood  firm  to  his  convic- 
tions  of  right,  and  was  always  ready  to  improve  every 
opportunity  of  doing  good ;  and  if,  sometimes,  his  natu- 
ral proclivity  to  good-humor  may  have  seemed  to  some 
excessive,  his  daily  life  proved  that  it  was  consistent 
mth  an  earnest  and  elevated  piety.     As  a  Preacher, 
he  held  a  high  rank  among  the  lights  of  the  American 
pulpit.     While  his  sermons  were  of  a  deeply  evangelical 
tone,  they  were  so  clear  and  forcible,  and  well  adapted, 
that  they  never  failed  to  command  attention  and  awaken 
interest.     His  fine  executive  talent  gave  him  great  in- 
fluence in  church  courts,  and  in  ecclesiastical  matters 
generally,  while  it  rendered  him  a  competent  guide  and 
an  eflicient  agent  in   adjusting   the  private  affairs  of 
some  of  his  parishioners.     In  his  oavii  family  he  was  a 
model  of  all  that  was  generous  and  attractive ;  he  was 
dignified  and  yet  full  of  love  and  of  life.     With  the 
members  of  his  congregation  he  was  on  terms  of  great 
familiarity,  while  yet  he  was  the  faithful  and  devoted 


326  PRESBYTERIAN   CnURCH. 

pastor,  always  ready  to  move  about  among  them,  wlien 
he  coiild  carry  blessings  in  his  train.  But  perliaj)s  the 
very  crown  of  Ms  usefulness  was  his  authorship.  Besides 
several  sermons  and  addresses  of  great  excellence,  printed 
in  pamphlet  form,  he  published  Letters  to  Bishop  Hughes, 
under  the  signatui'e  of  Kirwan ;  Notes,  Historical  and 
Biographical,  concerning  Elizabethtown,  N.  J. ;  Eoman- 
ism  at  Home ;  Men  and  Things,  as  I  saw  them  in 
Eiu'ope ;  Parish  and  other  Pencillings ;  and  The  Hap- 
py Home.  Of  these,  the  volume  containing  Let- 
ters to  Bishop  Hughes  has  had  the  widest  circulation, 
having  not  only  passed  through  many  editions  in  this 
country  and  Great  Britain,  but  having  been  translated 
also  into  several  foreign  languages.  It  is  written  with 
great  power  and  consummate  skill ;  and  it  will  always 
remain,  not  only  as  a  grand  testimony  in  favor  of  truth 
and  right,  but  as  an  evidence  that  its  author  had  one  of 
the  brightest  minds  as  well  as  the  most  remarkable  ex 
periences  of  his  day. 

JOHN  M.  KREBS,    D.D. 

John  Michael  Krebs,  a  son  of  William  and  Ann 
(Adamson)  Krebs,  was  born  at  Hagersto^vn,  Md.,  on 
the  6th  of  May,  1804.  His  father  was  of  German,  his 
mother  of  English,  extraction ;  and  both  ^vere  of  highly 
respectable  families.  When  he  was  about  fourteen  or 
fifteen  years  of  age,  having  previously  received  a  good 
common  education,  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  post-office, 
w^hile  part  of  his  time  was  spent  in  his  father's  store. 
Though  he  was  fond  of  reading,  and  devoted  to  it  all  his 
intervals  of  leisui'e,  he  became  ultimately  so  identified 
with  the  post-office,  that  he  had  the  chief  dii-ection  of  it ; 


tii;^'' by  AH  Ritchie 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  327 

and  iu  tliis  way  liis  fine  executive  abilities  were  admi- 
rably-developed. He  continued  to  be  tlius  employed 
till  liis  father's  death,  which  occuiTcd  in  1822,  and  for 
more  than  a  year  after  he  was  occupied  in  assisting  to 
settle  his  father's  estate. 

Though  he  had  been  educated  in  the  German  Re- 
formed Church,  yet,  as  the  services  in  that  church  were 
conducted  chiefly  in  German,  he  was  accustomed  to  at- 
tend, for  the  most  part,  on  Presbyterian  preaching. 
Shortly  before  his  father's  death  he  became  deeply 
thoughtful  on  the  subject  of  religion;  and,  not  long 
after  it,  without  having  scarcely  revealed  the  silent 
workings  of  his  spirit  to  an  individual,  indulged  a  hope 
of  acceptance  with  God,  and  joined  the  Associate  He- 
formed  Presbyterian  Church,  under  the  pastoral  charge 
of  the  Rev.  John  Lind.  Having  determined  to  devote 
himself  to  the  ministry,  he  began  to  prepare  for  col- 
lege ;  and  having  made  the  requisite  preparation,  partly 
under  the  private  instruction  of  Mr.  Lind,  and  partly 
at  the  Hagerstown  Academy,  he  entered  the  Sopho- 
more class  of  Dickinson  College,  then  under  the  Presi- 
dency of  Dr.  Neill,  early  in  1825.  Here  he  had  a  high 
standing,  and  graduated  with  distinguished  honor,  in 
1827. 

Shortly  after  his  graduation  he  began  his  theological 
studies  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Duffield,  then 
of  Carlisle ;  but  a  few  months  after  this,  he  became  a 
teacher  in  a  grammar-school  connected  with  the  college, 
and  continued  thus  employed  for  two  years.  Meanwhile 
he  was  pursuing  his  theological  studies,  and  early  in 
1829  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  to 
preach  the  Gospel.     After  having  preached  for  some 


328  PEESBYTEFJxVTT   CnURCH. 

time,  by  tile  appointment  of  Presbytery  in  that  neigh- 
borliood,  lie  went,  in  May  of  the  next  year,  to  the -Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Princeton,  with  a  view  to  avail  him- 
self of  the  advantaofes  of  that  institution.     As  he  ar- 

CD 

rived  at  Princeton  during  the  vacation  of  the  Seminary, 
he  determined  to  make  a  brief  \dsit  to  some  of  his  fi'iends 
in  New  York,  and  the  result  of  that  visit  was,  that  he 
was  introduced  as  a  candidate  to  the  Eutgers  Street 
Church  ;  and  though  he  returned  to  Princeton  for  a  short 
time,  he  afterwards  went  back  to  New  York,  and,  after 
preaching  for  the  Rutgers  Street  people  two  or  three 
months,  received  a  call  to  become  their  Pastor.  This 
call  he  accepted,  and,  in  November,  1830,  he  was  duly 
set  apart  to  the  pastoral  office. 

From  the  commencement  of  his  career  in  New  York, 
he  attracted  great  attention,  especially  for  his  remarka- 
ble executive  ability.  In  1837,  he  was  appointed  Per- 
manent Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  held  the 
office  till  1845,  in  which  year  he  was  Moderator  of  that 
venerable  body.  He  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Presby- 
tery and  Synod  of  New  York,  in  1841,  and  Dii-ector,  of 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  in  1842 ;  and 
was  appointed  President  of  the  Board  of  Directors  in 
1866.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions from  its  organization  till  his  death.  He  received 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Dickinson  Col- 
lege, in  1841.  He  publislied  several  occasional  sermons, 
which  show  great  facility  of  adaptation. 

Dr.  Krebs  had  a  good  constitution,  and  generally  en- 
joyed vigorous  health,  but  he  was  subject  to  turns  of 
nervous  prostration,  that,  in  several  instances,  occasioned 
a  serious  interruption  of  his  labors.     In  the  summer  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  329 

1  553,  and  again  in  tlie  smnmer  of  1865,  he  spent  several 
months  in  travelling  in  Eui'ope,  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health;  and  in  both  cases,  the  desired  object  was,  in  a 
good  degree,  realized.  In  the  summer  of  1867,  he 
became  greatly  disordered  in  respect  to  both  his  bodily 
and  mental  faculties,  and,  after  a  lingering  process  of 
decay,  which  medical  skill  could  not  arrest,  he  passed 
on  to  mingle  in  higher  scenes.  He  died  on  the  30th  of 
September,  1867,  and  at  his  funeral,  which  was  attended 
on  the  2d  of  October,  addresses  were  delivered  by  Drs. 
Spring,  and  R.  W.  Dickinson,  and  the  other  services 
conducted  by  several  prominent  clergymen  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. 

Dr.  Krebs  was  married  in  1830,  to  Sarah  Harris, 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Annie  Holmes,  of  Carlisle. 
Mrs.  Krebs  died  in  1837,  having  been  the  mother  of 
two  childi'en,  both  of  whom  survived  her.  In  1839,  he 
was  married  to  Ellen  Dewitt,  daughter  of  John  Cham 
bers,  of  Newbm-gh,  who  also  became  the  mother  of 
several  childi-en,  and  died  in  1863.  Both  of  his  mves 
were  persons  of  great  excellence,  and  contributed  much 
to  his  usefulness  and  hapj^iness. 

Dr.  Krebs  was  a  short,  but  thick-set  man,  and  had 
great  quickness  and  energy  of  movement,  and  a  counte- 
nance expressive  at  once  of  vivacity  and  strength.  His 
intellect  was  much  above  the  common  order,  beino;  at 
once  rapid  in  its  movements,  and  clear  and  logical  in  its 
conclusions.  He  had  an  unusually  genial  and  versatile 
temperament,  and,  without  compromising  his  dignity, 
could  accommodate  himself  to  every  variety  of  character 
and  circumstances.  His  mind  was  of  an  eminently 
practical  turn,  and  could  never  be  at  rest  unless  it  were 


330  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

working  out  some  beneficial  results.  His  Chiistian 
character  was  marked  by  great  quietness,  earnestness, 
and  efficiency ;  and,  when  his  mind  was  not  clouded 
through  the  influence  of  bodily  disease,  by  great  cheer- 
fulness also.  His  sermons  on  the  Sabbath  were  gener- 
ally written,  and  were  full  of  evangelical  truth,  exhib- 
ited in  a  luminous  and  impressive  manner.  His  mode 
of  delivery  was  simple  and  natural,  and  sometimes  rose 
to  a  high  pitch  of  earnestness.  IJe  could  extemporize 
with  great  ease  and  fluency,  and  some  of  his  unpremed- 
itated utterances  are  believed  to  have  been  among  his 
most  effective.  With  great  executive  ability,  directed 
and  sanctified  by  a  living  faith,  and  a  gracious  influence 
from  above,  he  was  a  most  active  and  useful  member  of 
all  ecclesiastical  bodies.  Indeed,  he  adorned  every  rela- 
tion he  sustained ;  and  when  he  passed  away,  all  who 
had  known  him,  felt  that  he  entered  on  a  glorious  re- 
ward. 

CORTLAI^DT  VAN  RENSSELAER,  D.D. 

CoRTLANDT  Yan  Rensselaer  belonged  to  one  of  the 
most  ancient  and  honored  families  in  our  country.  His 
father  was  General  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  a  man  of 
immense  wealth,  and  great  personal  and  political  influ- 
ence, well  kno^vn  as  the  "  Patroon  "  of  iVlbany.  His 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  AVilliam  Patterson, 
Governor  of  New  Jersey,  and  one  of  the  Associate  Jus- 
tices of  the  Supreme  Com't  of  the  United  States.  Both 
parents  were  not  only  distinguished  in  the  walks  of 
philanthropy,  but  possessed,  in  other  respects,  a  marked 
Christian  character,  and  were  specially  cai'eful  to  train 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  331 

up  their  cliildi'en  in  the  nui'ture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord. 

He  was  born  in  Albany,  on  the  25th  of  May,  1808. 
He  passed  his  early  years  at  home,  but  in  due  time  was 
fitted  for  college,  and  entered  at  Yale,  where  also  he  was 
graduated  in  1 8  2  7.  For  three  years  after  his  graduation, 
he  was  engaged  in  the  study  of  the  Law,  and,  in  1830, 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  the  State  of  New  York 
Before  the  close  of  that  year,  however,  the  great  purj^ose 
of  his  life  seems  to  have  been  changed,  and  he  resolved 
to  devote  himself  to  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel.  This 
was  in  consequence  of  his  having  experienced  a  silent 
but  thorough  change  of  character,  which  led  him  to  wish 
to  make  the  most  of  life,  as  an  opportunity  for  doing 
good,  and  as  a  preparation  for  Heaven.  Accordingly, 
in  1830,  he  became  a  student  in  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Princeton,  but,  after  remaining  there  two  years,  took 
his  dismission,  and  connected  himself  with  the  Union 
Theological  Seminary  in  Virginia ;  and  there  he  passed 
the  last  year  of  his  preparation  for  the  ministry. 

Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  dm-ing  his  whole  theological 
com'se,  seems  to  have  been  deeply  impressed  especially  by 
the  moral  degradation  of  the  slaves  at  the  South ;  and 
no  sooner  had  he  left  the  Seminary,  than  his  efforts  for 
ameliorating  their  condition  began.  He  accepted  an  in- 
vitation from  a  distinguished  Vii'ginia  planter,  General 
Cocke,  at  that  time  well  known  in  the  walks  of  Christian 
benevolence,  to  live  in  his  family,  and  labor  among  the 
occupants  of  his  plantation.  Here,  and  especially  through 
the  influence  of  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  was  built  one  of  the 
first,  if  not  the  very  first,  of  the  chaj)els  in  Virginia  for  the 
religious  instruction  of  the  colored  poj^ulation.    In  this 


332  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

self -denying  work  of  endeavoring  to  instruct  and  elevate 
these  poor  people,  he  continued  vigorously  engaged  until 
the  fall  of  1835,  when  certain  changes  in  the  political  state 
of  things  not  only  made  his  position  an  uncomfortable  one, 
but  revealed  to  him  the  necessity  of  seeking  another 
Held  of  labor.  Accordingly,  in  a  letter  to  the  West 
Hanover  Presbytery,  by  which  he  had  been  ordained, 
he  asked  for  his  dismission,  stating  what  he  had  regarded 
the  sources  of  encouragement  in  his  labors,  and  what  he 
then  regarded  as  the  death  of  all  his  hopes  of  usefulness 
in  that  field. 

.Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  on  leaving  Virginia,  came  north- 
ward, and  in  1837  was  instrumental  of  establishing 
a  church  in  Bm-lington,  N.  J.,  and  was  installed  as  its 
Pastor  on  the  29th  of  June.  He  resigned  his  charge 
in  May,  1840,  but  always  retained  for  the  church  a 
warm  affection,  and  was  ready  to  do  his  utmost  for  the 
promotion  of  its  interests.  For  two  or  three  of  the  fol- 
lowing years,  he  lived  chiefly  in  Washington  City, 
where  he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  a  feeble  chm'ch.  In 
1843,  he  was  invited,  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  to  undertake  an 
agency  for  increasing  its  funds.  He  accepted  the  ap- 
pointment, and  travelled  over  a  large  portion  of  the 
United  States,  and  collected  one  hundi'ed  thousand  dol- 
lars ;  and  when  he  resigned  his  commission,  he  refused 
to  accej3t  any  compensation  for  his  services,  and  insisted 
even  on  paying  the  expenses  of  his  long  and  tedious 
jom-ney. 

In  1845,  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  received  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity,  from  tlie  University  of  New  York. 
Early  in  1840,  he  was  elected,  by  a  unanimous  vote  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  833 

the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Education,  tlieir  Correspond- 
ing Secretary.  In  this  office  he  performed  what  may 
justly  be  considered  the  great  work  of  his  life.  He  en- 
tered upon  it  under  a  deep  sense  of  its  magnitude,  and  a 
corresponding  distrust  of  his  own  ability  for  the  success- 
ful performance  of  it,  but  at  the  same  time  with  a  reso- 
lution that  scarcely  knew  a  limit,  and  in  humble  depen- 
dence on  the  higher  influences  of  God's  grace.  And  in 
this  work  he  showed  that  he  was  willing  to  spend  and 
be  spent.  He  wrote  and  published  numerous  essays  and 
addresses,  designed  to  awaken  the  public  mind  to  the 
importance  of  a  thorough  Christian  training.  He  as- 
sisted many  a  poor  youth  of  promise  either  by  his  own 
generous  contributions,  or  through  the  kindness  of  others 
which  he  enlisted  in  their  behalf,  to  gain  the  requisite 
qualifications  for  the  Christian  ministry;  and  it  is 
believed  there  are  those  still  actively  and  faithfully  en 
gaged  as  the  ministers  of  Christ,  who,  but  for  his  influ- 
ence, would  never  have  been  invested  with  the  sacred 
office.  In  short,  his  ruling  passion  was  to  help  forward 
the  cause  of  Christ,  especially  in  connection  with  the 
great  object  to  which  he  was  devoted, —  the  increase 
and  the  improvement  of  the  Christian  ministry.  He 
had  many  testimonies  of  respect  and  good- will  from  the 
Pi'esbyterian  Church,  one  of  which  was  his  being  chosen 
Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1857. 

The  illness  that  brought  Dr.  Van  Eensselaer  to  his 
grave,  ^vas  a  lingering  and  protracted  one.  For  many 
weeks  previous  to  his  death  his  case  was  regarded  hope- 
less ;  but  so  intent  was  he  on  doing  good,  that,  after  he 
became  too  feeble  to  use  his  pen,  he  kept  on  ^viiting 
by  an^jther's  hand.     During  the  session  of  the  Genera] 


334  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

Assembly  at  Rochester,  in  May,  1860,  tlie  announce- 
ment of  liis  death  was  daily  expected ;  and,  as  a  testi- 
mony of  the  high  regard  which  that  venerable  body  bore 
for  his  exalted  worth,  they  all  (numbering  more  thar 
three  hundi'ed)  signed  their  names  to  a  letter,  expressive 
of  the  warmest  gratitude  for  his  distinguished  services. 
On  the  morning  of  his  death,  he  was  carried  out  upon 
the  veranda,  that  he  might  enjoy  the  fresh  aii-,  and  the 
beautiful  prospect  that  opened  around  him ;  and  while 
there,  tlie  cord  that  bound  him  to  life  was  broken.  He 
died  on  the  25th  of  July,  1860,  and  the  discourse  at  his 
funeral  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hodge,  of  Prince- 
ton, Doctors  Plumer,  Boardman,  and  Chester,  partici- 
pating in  the  services.  His  remains  were  taken  to 
All3any,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault. 

Dr.  Van  Rensselaer  was  married,  in  1836,  to  Catha- 
rine, daughter  of  Dr.  Mason  T.  Cogswell,  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  eminent  physi- 
cians in  that  state.  They  had  eight  childi'en,  —  six  sons, 
and  two  daughters ;  five  of  whom,  with  their  mother, 
still  sm-vive. 

Dr.  Van  Rensselaer  was  a  large,  strongly  built  man, 
and,  dming  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  enjoyed  vigorous, 
uninterrupted  health.  His  face  would  lead  one  to  ex- 
pect a  clear,  practical,  well-ordered  mind,  rather  than 
one  of  extraordinary  brilliancy.  His  manners  were 
simple  and  unostentatious,  without  any  of  those  artifi- 
cial airs  which  are  too  often  associated  with  the  con- 
sciousness of  superior  rank.  His  mind  was  natmally 
clear,  comprehensive,  and  correct;  and  though  it  had 
been  subjected  to  careful  cultui'e,  it  was  manifestly 
most   in  its  element  when  it  was  devising  or  carrying 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  335 

out  plans  of  doing  good.  His  heart  easily  warmed  with 
generous  affection,  and  liis  ear  opened  spontaneously  to 
the  tale  of  want  or  sorrow.  His  reli2:ion  diffused  itself 
as  an  all-pervading  influence,  sanctifying  and  elevating 
his  whole  character.  In  his  family,  he  was  a  model  of 
gentleness  and  kindness,  but  never  lacking  in  domestic 
dignity  and  decision.  In  the  ordinary  intercoui'se  of 
life,  he  was  always  upon  the  lookout  for  opportunities 
of  doing  good,  and  either  by  a  word  in  season,  or  by 
some  timely  gift,  he  very  often  accomplished  his  object. 
In  the  pulpit,  he  could  not  be  said  to  be  eminently  at- 
tractive to  the  multitude,  but  his  sermons  were  always 
full  of  sound  evangelical  thought,  clearly  and  vigor- 
ously expressed,  and  pressed  upon  the  heart  and  con- 
science with  much  more  than  ordinary  power.  In  the 
various  more  public  relations  to  the  Church  which  he 
sustained,  especially  in  the  office  of  Secretary  and  Gene- 
ral Agent  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  the  generosity  of  his  heart,  in  connexion  with 
his  excellent  common-sense,  and  thoroughly  practical 
tendencies,  made  him  eminently  a  man  of  mark.  He 
lived  to  bless  his  generation,  and  through  them  his 
good  influence  will  extend  to  posterity ;  and,  as  long  as 
the  record  of  his  life  remains,  his  name  will  be  held  in 
cherished  remembrance. 

That  which,  more  than  any  thing  else,  gave  complexion 
to  Dr.  Van  Rensselaer's  character  and  life,  was  his  de- 
votedness  to  his  self-denying  work,  in  connection  mth 
the  position  of  ease  and  worldly  independence  that 
seemed  to  come  to  him  as  his  birthright.  After  he  had 
graduated  at  college,  and  fitted  himself  to  enter  the  legal 
profession,  in  which,  doubtless,  he  might  have  become 


336  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

eminent,  lie  directed  liis  tliouglits  to  the  Christian  min- 
istry ;  and  from  that  time,  he  seemed  to  forget  evei*} 
thing  else  in  the  one  all-engrossing  object  of  doing  good. 
What  were  great  worldly  possessions,  including  all  the 
luxuries  of  life,  to  him  who  had  deliberately  consecrated 
eveiy  thing  to  the  service  and  gloiy  of  his  Redeemer  ? 
He  began  his  professional  cai'eer  among  the  slaves  of 
Virginia,  and  he  closed  it  in  faithful  efforts,  and  gene- 
rous benefactions,  designed  to  elevate  the  character  of 
the  ministry  throughout  our  whole  Presbyterian  Chui'ch ; 
and  the  whole  interval  was  spent  in  intense  devotion  to 
his  work.  Let  every  scoffer  at  the  ministry  contem- 
plate this  noble  character,  and  be  confounded.  Let  every 
minister  of  the  Gospel  contemplate  it,  and  be  encour- 
aged, strengthened,  comforted. 

PIIESrEAS  D.    GURLEY,    D.D. 

PinisTEAS  Densmore  Gurley,  the  youngest  child  of 
Phineas  and  Elizabeth  (Fox)  Gurley,  was  born  at  Ham- 
ilton, Madison  County,  New  York,  on  the  12th  of 
November,  1816.  But  dm-ing  the  infancy  of  this  son, 
the  family  removed  to  Parish ville,  St.  Lawi'ence  County. 
His  father  was  born  and  educated  a  Quaker,  though  his 
ancestry  were  Scotch  Covenanters ;  and  his  mother  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  E])iscopal  Church,  though 
she  frequently  attended  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
in  all  her  intercoui-se  was  a  model  of  Christian  charity. 
He  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  at  the  acad- 
emy in  Parishville.  As  a  child,  he  was  remarkably 
amiable  and  gentle  in  his  disposition,  and  was  especially 
distinguished  for  a  spirit  of  reverential  obedience  toward 
his  parents. 


mOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  S'SJ 

In  the  year  1831,  a  revival  of  religion,  of  great  inter- 
est, was  experienced  in  the  village  in  which  his  lot  was 
cast.  Under  a  sermon  preached  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Can- 
non, of  Geneva,  he  became  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense 
of  his  own  sinfulness,  and,  after  a  season  of  intense 
agony,  found  rest,  as  he  believed,  in  a  cordial  acceptance 
of  Christ  as  his  Saviour.  Shortly  after  this,  he  united 
with  the  church  in  Parishville,  being  then  about  fifteen 
years  of  age. 

Immediately  after  this,  he  not  only  felt  a  desire,  but 
formed  a  purpose,  to  become  a  minister  of  the  Gospel; 
and  his  father,  though  his  pecuniary  means  were  limited, 
finally  consented  that  he  should  receive  a  liberal  educa- 
tion. Accordingly,  after  having  been  engaged  in  his 
preparatory  course  about  a  year,  he  was  admitted  a 
member  of  Union  College,  in  1833,  before  he  was  six- 
teen years  of  age.  At  the  close  of  his  first  year  in  col- 
lege, he  was  summoned  home  to  see  his  mother  die  ;  but 
before  his  arrival,  she  had  departed,  leaving  it  as  her 
dying  message  to  him,  "  that  he  should  be  a  faithful 
minister  for  Jesus."  This  message  was  treasured  among 
his  most  cherished  remembrances  as  long  as  he  lived.  The 
scantiness  of  his  pecuniary  resources  obliged  him  to 
teach  a  school  at  intervals,  during  his  college  course : 
but  notmthstanding  this,  he  maintained  a  high  position 
in  his  class,  and  graduated,  in  1837,  mth  the  first 
honor. 

Shortly  after  his  graduation,  Mr.  Gurley  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  where  also  he 
took  a  very  high  stand,  as  a  scholar,  a  gentleman,  and  a 
Christian.  During  the  vacation  of  1838,  he  performed 
missionary  labor  in  Sussex  County,  Del.,  and,  by  this 


338  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

means,  not  only  acquired  a  greater  facility  of  extempo- 
raneous speaking,  but  learned  many  important  lessons 
that  lie  was  able  to  turn  to  good  account  in  his  subse- 
cj^uent  ministry.  In  April,  1840,  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  Gospel,  by  the  Presbytery  of  North  Kiver, 
at  Cold  Spring,  New  York.  His  first  sermon,  which  was 
preached  in  Newburgh,  shortly  after  his  license,  made 
so  decidedly  favorable  an  impression,  that  it  brought 
him  an  immediate  call  to  become  Associate  Pastor  with 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Johnson,  who  was  then  far  advanced  in 
life. 

The  church  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  having  become  va- 
cant in  1839,  its  strength  was  much  reduced  by  the 
withdrawal  of  a  large  number,  who  formed  a  second 
church  (N.  S.),  with  the  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher 
as  their  Pastor.  The  first  church,  consisting  of  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  members,  and  worshipping  in  an 
old  and  incommodious  edifice,  requested  Dr.  Archibald 
Alexander,  through  a  commissioner  to  the  General  As- 
sembly, in  1840,  to  recommend  to  them  some  suitable 
person  for  a  minister.  He  recommended  Mr.  Giu'ley ; 
and,  accordingly,  Mr.  Gui'ley  was  applied  to,  accepted 
their  invitation,  and,  on  the  loth  of  December,  was  re- 
ceived by  the  Presbytery  of  Indianapolis,  was  ordained 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  installed  as  Pastor  of 
the  church  which  had  called  him.  Here  he  very  soon 
acquired  a  powerful  influence,  not  only  by  his  correct, 
able,  scriptural  preaching,  but  by  his  faithfulness  as  a 
pastor,  and  his  considerate,  exemplary  deportment  in  all 
the  relations  of  life.  The  rapid  increase  of  his  congre- 
gation created  the  necessity  for  a  new  chiu-ch-edifice ; 
and  this  ^\^as  built,  chiefly  in  response  to  his  appeals  and 


BIOGTIAPmCAL    SKETCILES.  339 

t  (forts,  and  was  dedicated  in  May,  1843.  In  tlie  early 
part  of  that  year,  a  revival  of  religion  took  place  under 
liis  ministry,  in  wliich  his  labors  were  most  abundant, 
and  from  which  was  gathered  much  precious  frait. 
During  his  ministry  here,  he  visited  Cincinnati,  Fort 
Wayne,  and  several  other  places,  in  seasons  of  revival ; 
and  his  labors  were  always  attended  with  a  manifest 
blessing. 

In  November,  1849,  Mr.  Gurley  preached  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  assisted 
the  pastor  in  the  communion  service.  That  congrega- 
tion, becoming  vacant  soon  after,  elected  him  as  its 
Pastor.  Influenced  largely  by  a  regard  to  the  health 
of  his  family,  he  accepted  the  call,  and  was  installed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Miami,  in  April,  1850.  Here  he 
remained  four  years,  during  which  time  he  was  inde- 
fatigable in  his  labor,  and  the  chm-ch  enjoyed  unwonted 
prosperity. 

The  pastoral  relation  of  the  Kev.  Dr.  D.  X.  Junkin,  to 
the  F  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  in  Washington  City, 
having  been  dissolved  in  October,  1853,  the  congregation, 
by  advice  of  the  several  Presbyterian  ministers  in  Balti- 
more, unanimously  called  Dr.  Gurley  (for  meanwhile  he 
had  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity)  to  become 
their  Pastor,  and  that  mthout  even  having  had  the  op- 
portimity  to  hear  him  preach.  He  immediately  visited 
Washington,  and  preached  to  the  congregation,  who,  af- 
ter having  heard  him,  repeated  theii'  call.  He  returned 
to  Dayton,  and  announced  to  his  people  his  determination 
to  remain  mth  them ;  but,  upon  more  matui*e  reflection, 
he  reversed  his  decision,  and  i-esigned  his  charge,  and,  in 


340  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Marcli^  1854,  was  installed  pastor  of  the  F  Street  Churcli, 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore.  Here  he  continued 
discharging  his  various  duties  ^vith  great  fidelity  anc 
success,  until  he  finished  his  course  -with  joy. 

In  1858,  he  served  as  Chaplain  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  In  1859,  a  union  of  the  Second  Presby- 
teiian  Church  with  the  F  Street  Chui'ch  havino;  l)een 
consummated,  the  united  body  was  known  fi-om  that 
time  as  the  New  York  Avenue  Church,  Dr.  Gurley 
continuing  its  Pastor.  To  the  building  of  the  noble 
edifice  now  occupied  by  this  church,  he  contributed 
largely,  by  collecting  funds,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
In  1865,  the  church  with  which  he  was  connected,  in 
accordance  with  his  advice,  established  a  Mission  Chui'ch 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  city,  which  he  helped  to 
sustain  and  advance  by  every  means  in  his  power.  He 
had  a  high  estimate  of  the  importance  of  Church  Exten- 
sion, and,  both  by  his  teachings  and  his  example,  did 
much  to  promote  it. 

Dr.  Gurley  was  a  commissioner  from  his  Presbytery 
to  the  General  Assembly  that  met  at  St.  Louis,  in  May. 
1866.  As  Chairman  of  the  Judicial  Committee  of  that 
Assembly,  he  exerted  a  commanding  influence,  and  was 
especially  active  in  securing  the  passage  of  certain  reso- 
lutions, having  a  bearing  on  the  then  distracted  state 
of  the  country  and  the  Church.  The  same  General 
Assembly  appointed  him  a  member  of  the  Committee 
of  Fifteen  to  confer  with  a  similar  Committee  of  the 
New  School  General  Assembly,  in  regai'd  to  the  reunion 
of  the  Presbytei'ian  Church.  Here  he  labored  with 
great  care,  and  yet  ^vith  great  diligence,  and,  though  a* 


BIOGKAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  341 

first  doubtful,  became  ultimately  satisfied,  of  the  desira- 
bleness of  reunion.  He  was  again  commissioned  by  his 
Presbytery  to  attend  the  General  Assembly  which  met 
at  Cincinnati,  in  May,  1867.  Of  that  body,  he  was 
chosen  Moderator ;  and  by  the  promptness  and  skill  mth 
which  he  presided,  as  well  as  the  graceful  and  cordial 
welcome  which  he  gave  ,to  the  delegation  of  foreign 
ministers  present  on  the  occasion,  he  excited  general 
admiration. 

Dr.  Guiiey's  ministry  at  Washington  brought  him  in 
contact  with  many  of  the  higher  class  of  minds ;  and 
several  of  the  successive  Presidents  of  the  United  States, 
and  many  others  holding  exalted  stations,  were  among 
his  stated  hearers.  With  President  Lincoln,  especially, 
he  was  on  terms  of  intimacy ;  and  one  reason  which  the 
President  gave  for  liking  him  as  a  preacher,  was,  that 
he  kej)t  so  far  aloof  from  politics.  Dr.  Gurley,  as  a 
pastor,  was  called  to  attend  him  in  his  last  houi-s ;  and 
after  the  death-scene  was  over,  he  offered  a  most  touch 
ing  and  impressive  prayer;  and  afterwards,  at  the  fun- 
eral, delivered  an  address  of  great  pathos  and  power. 
He  accompanied  the  remains  of  the  President  to  their 
last  resting-place  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  there  closed 
the  series  of  funeral  servdces. 

At  the  time  of  Dr.  Gurley's  attendance  at  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  at  St.  Louis,  his  health  seemed  firm, 
andthere  was  every  thing  in  his  appearance  to  justify 
the  expectation  that  he  would  see  yet  many  more  yeai's 
of  active  usefulness.  But  even  then,  he  was  rai3idly 
nearing  the  close.  On  the  first  Sabbath  of  February 
of  the  next  year,  he  felt  constrained  to  ask  leave  of 


342  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

absence  from  his  congregation  for  a  few  months,  in  the 
hope  of  being  able  to  retui'n  to  them  with  invigorated 
health.  His  request  was  readily  granted,  and  he  went 
immediately  to  Philadelphia,  and  stopped  with  a  much 
loved  fi'iend  there  for  about  six  weeks.  Thence  he  went 
to  Eichmond,  Va.,  and  afterwards  to  Brooklyn,  N.Y. ; 
and  then  to  Clifton  Springs.,  Being  fully  impressed 
with  the  conviction  that  his  malady  must  soon  prove 
fatal,  he  requested  that  he  might  be  carried  back  to 
Washington  to  die ;  and,  accordingly,  he  reached  his 
earthly  home  a  little  less  than  a  week  before  he  took 
possession  of  the  building  of  God.  His  dej^arture  was 
eminently  peaceful,  and  even  glorious.  He  -died  on  the 
30th  of  September,  1868. 

In  October,  1840,  he  was  married  to  Emma,  young- 
est daughter  of  Horace  Brooks,  M.D.,  of  Parishville, 
where  he  spent  his  early  years.  Mrs.  Guiiey  and  five 
childi'en  —  three  sons  and  two  daughters  —  sm-vived 
him. 

Dr.  Gm-ley  had  a  well  formed  and  robust  frame,  that 
seemed  fittingly  to  represent  his  intellectual  and  moral 
character.  He  had  great  power  of  endm'ance,  and 
could  perform  more  labor  than  almost  any  of  his  con- 
temporaries. He  was  earnest  and  firm,  yet  condescend- 
ing and  conciliatory.  His  preaching  was  not  highly 
impassioned,  but  it  was  eminently  clear,  evangelical,  and 
spirited,  and  fitted  to  find  its  way  to  both  the  under- 
standing and  the  heai-t.  As  a  Pastor,  he  united  great 
discretion  with  great  fidelity,  and  no  one  knew  better 
than  he  how  to  minMe  in  scenes  of  sorrow.  As  a  Pres- 
byter,  the  various  ecclesiastical  bodies  with  which  he 


■BIOGRAPinCAL    SKETCHES.  343 

was  connected  have  testified  tlieir  respect  for  him  and 
their  confidence  in  him,  by  placing  him  in  their  highest 
positions  of  influence  and  responsibility.  As  a  Chris- 
tian, he  was  humble,  zealous,  consistent ;  and  his  grand 
inquiry  always  was,  what  his  Lord  and  Master  would 
have  him  to  do. 


Septimus  Tustin"  was  born  of  respectable  parentage, 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  about  the  beginning  of 
the  present  century.  Losing  his  father  at  an  early 
age,  the  responsibility  of  rearing  and  sustaining  a  large 
family  devolved  upon  his  mother,  a  Christian  lady  of 
earnest  and  devoted  piety. 

Whilst  engaged  in  secular  buiness  as  a  juvenile  sales- 
man, the  subject  of  this  memoir  became  hopefully  pious, 
by  the  Divine  blessing  upon  the  united  instructions  of 
his  excellent  mother  and  of  his  minister,  the  E,ev. 
James  Patterson,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  the  Northern  Liberties  of  Philadel- 
phia ;  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  made  a  public  pro- 
fession of  his  faith  in  Christ  as  a  member  of  Mr.  Pat- 
terson's church. 

Having:  thus  consecrated  himself  to  the  service  of  his 
blessed  Redeemer,  his  mind  soon  become  impressed  with 
the  conviction  that  it  was  his  duty  to  prepare  for  the 
work  of  the  Christian  ministry.  Accordingly,  he  at 
once  commenced  a  course  of  literary  study,  which  he 
prosecuted  for  several  years  under  the  direction  of  his 
pastor ;  at  the  same  time  attending  lectures  at  the  Uni- 
versity of   Pennsylvania.     His  theological  course   was 


344  PRESBTTEEIAN    CHURCH. 

prosecuted  at  the  Seminary  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Church,  then  in  charge  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Banks. 

Having  completed  his  theological  studies,  Mr.  Tustin, 
being  led  providentially  to  visit  Washington  city, 
placed  himself  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Baltimore,  at  the  session  held  at  Georgetown,  D.  C, 
December  30,  1822 ;  and  at  an  adjourned  meeting, 
held  in  the  Second  Church  of  Washington,  Rev.  Daniel 
Baker,  pastor,  (now  the  New  York  Avenue  Church,)  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  January  20,  1823. 

After  spending  several  months  in  missionary  labor 
in  the  vicinity  of  Georgetown,  Mr.  Tustin  I'eturned  to 
his  native  city,  where  he  was  employed  by  the  Female 
Missionary  Society  of  Philadelphia  as  their  missionary 
to  the  inmates  of  charitable  institutions.  While  thus 
employed  he  was  commissioned  by  the  Committee  of 
the  Pfome  Missionary  Society,  of  which  Dr.  Thomas  H. 
Skinner  was  then  chairman,  to  visit  and  explore  the  re- 
gions of  North  Carolina,  of  which  Washington,  N.  C, 
was  the  centre.  Here  he  labored  for  several  months 
with  good  success,  laying  the  foundation  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  town  of  Washington. 

Returning  to  Washington,  D.  C,  Mr.  Tustin  was  or- 
dained to  the  ministry  October  7,  1824,  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  the  old  edifice  still  standing  at 
the  foot  of  Capitol  Hill,  then  a  fashionable  church  un- 
der the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Reuben  Post.  This 
ordination  was  the  first  performed  by  the  Presbytery 
of  the  District  of  Columbia,  after  it  had  been  consti- 
tuted by  the  division  of  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore, 
May  11,  1824. 

Immediately  after   being  ordained,  Mr.  Tustin  was 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  345 

called  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  Leesburg,  Virginia,  and,  while  there,  was  united  in 
marriage  withe  Eliza  Maria,  third  daughter  of  the  late 
Rev.  Stephen  B.  Balch,  D.D.,  one  of  the  pioneeers  of 
the  gospel  in  Georgetown,  D.  C,  and  the  founder  of 
the  Bridge  Street  Church  in  that  place. 

From  Leesburg  Mr.  Tustin  was  called  to  the  church 
at  Charlestown,  Virginia,  as  the  successor  of  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  John  D.  Matthews.  In  this  charge  he  con- 
tinued to  lal)or  usefully  and  happily  for  uine  years ; 
the  membership  in  that  time  being  more  than  doubled, 
and  the  congregation  building  a  new  and  enlarged 
house  of  worship. 

The  next  position  occupied  by  Mr.  Tustin  was  that 
of  chaplain  to  the  University  of  Virginia,  an  office  to 
which  he  was  unanimously  chosen,  and  the  duties  of 
which  he  discharged  with  great  acceptance  to  the  Fac- 
ulty and  students  during  the  whole  period  for  which, 
by  the  laws  of  the  Institution,  a  minister  of  any  one 
denomination  is  elected  to  serve. 

At  the  close  of  this  service  Mr.  Tustin  was  chosen 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Warrenton,  Virginia,  where  he 
remained  four  years.  During  this  time  the  memorable 
controversy  between  the  Old  School  and  New  School 
parties  in  the  Presbyteiian  Church  raged  with  violence 
throughout  the  land,  which,  in  1837-38,  resulted  in 
the  di\^sion  of  the  body.  With  the  views  he  then  held, 
Mr.  Tustin  became  a  decided  adherent  of  the  Old  School 
branch,  and  so  influenced  the  people  of  his  charge — • 
liot,  however,  without  some  difficulty — as  to  assume  the 
same  position  upon  the  questions  at  issue. 

While  pastor  at  Warrenton,  Mr.  TustiL  was  elected  to 


346  PEESBYTEEIAN    CHUECH. 

the  chaplaincy  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  serv- 
ing one  term,  with  leave  of  absence  from  his  congrega- 
tion for  that  purpose ;  but  the  congregation  refusing  to 
continue  that  leave,  he  declined  a  re-election.  In  the 
year  1841,  however,  a  vacancy  occurring  in  the  chap- 
laincy of  the  United  States  Senate  by  the  death  of  the 
lamented  Mr.  Cookman,  Mr.  Tustin  was  chosen  his 
successor ;  and  in  this  position  of  influence  and  respon- 
sibility he  was  continued  five  or  six  consecutive  terms. 
During  this  time  he  became  associate  pastor  with  the 
late  Rev,  James  Laurie,  D.D.,  of  the  F  Street  Church, 
a  relation  which  subsisted  about  four  years.  Through- 
out this  period  Mr.  Tustin  preached  on  alternate  Sab- 
baths at  the  Capitol  and  in  the  F  Street  Church  ;  and 
during  the  week,  (alternating  weekly  with  the  chaplain 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,)  opened  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives,  attended  two  Aveekly  services 
in  connection  with  the  F  Street  Chm^ch,  and  aided  in 
the  conduct  of  the  Congressional  prayer-meeting  on 
Saturday  night. 

After  retirino^  from  the  colleg-iate  charade  of  the  F 
Street  Church,  Mr.  Tustin  became  identified  Avith  an 
effort  to  build  a  new  church  edifice  on  Eighth  Street. 
This  enterprise,  prosecuted  with  indefatigable  energy 
under  many  difiiculties,  was  successful  to  the  comple- 
tion of  the  house,  the  gathering  of  the  congregation, 
and  the  installation  of  the  pastor,  when  his  health,  jdeld- 
ing  to  the  pressure  of  long-continued  and  arduous  labor, 
compelled  hira  to  entertain  the  idea  of  retiring  to  a 
field  of  labor  requiring  less  exhaustive  labor ;  and,  un- 
der the  advice  of  Presbytery,  he  accepted  a  call  to  be- 
come the  pastor  of  the  Church  of  Hagerstown,  Maryland. 


BIOGEAPmCAIi    SKETCHES.  347 

After  spending  some  years  in  the  service  of  this 
church,  Dr.  Tustin  became  successively  pastor  of  the 
Churches  of  Germantown,  Pa.,  Havre  de  Grace,  Md., 
and  Aberdeen,  Miss.  This  last  charge,  however,  al- 
though not  less  agreeable  and  successful  than  any  that 
he  had  occupied,  he  promptly  resigned,  as  soon  as  he 
discovered  the  hostile  attitude  about  to  be  assumed  by 
the  State  of  Mississippi  against  the  authority  of  the 
Federal  Government. 

Returning  to  Washington  City  he  accepted  a  i^osition 
under  the  Government,  tendered  by  his  particular  friend, 
the  Hon.  Judge  Holt,  then  Postmaster-General,  and 
which  he  held  till  the  time  of  his  decease.  But  even 
in  advanced  age  and  greatly 
enfeebled  health,  our  departed 
brother  delighted  still  to  serve 
his  Master  in  the  ministry  of 
reconciliation.  For  several 
years  previous  to  his  call  from 
toil  to  reward,  he  served  as 
stated  supply  to  the  Fifteenth 
Street  Colored  Presbyterian 
Church.  To  his  people  he 
was  the  venerated  pastor  and  the  beloved  friend, 
watching  over  their  interests  with  parental  solicitude  ; 
and,  on  their  part,  with  peculiarly  grateful  apprecia- 
tion. 

Beside  his  life-long  labor  in  the  ministry.  Dr.  Tustin 
ever  felt  a  deep  concern  in  the  cause  of  education, 
which  was  particularly  manifested  in  his  earnest  de- 
votion to  the  work  of  building  up  the  interests  of  Lafay- 
ette College.     His  influence  as  a  member  of  the  Board 


Kev.  Dr.  Tu'-tm. 


348  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

of  Trustees,  and  liis  counsels  as  president  of  that  board, 
were  material  wealth  to  that  once  struggling  enterprise. 
But  the  work  of  Dr.  Tustin's  life,  the  honor  of  which,  we 
believe,  next  after  that  of  his  acceptable  ministiy,  he 
most  highly  appreciated,  was  his  appointment  by  the 
Old-School  Assembly,  in  session,  1863,  at  Peoria,  Illinois, 
to  bear  fraternal  salutations  to  the  sister  Assembly  of 
the  other  branch,  then  sitting  in  Philadelphia,  and  to 
inaugurate  a  correspondence  which,  it  was  most  ardently 
desired,  would  result  in  a  permanent  and  happy  re- 
union. 

The  manner  in  which  he  was  enabled  to  discharge 
this  delicate  and  important  mission  received  not  only 
the  hearty  approval  of  both  Assemblies,  and  of  the 
great  body  of  both  branches  of  the  Church,  but  also, 
and  above  all,  the  gracious  approbation  of  Him  who 
purchased  the  Church  with  his  own  blood.  The  con- 
sciousness of  this,  together  with  the  happily  consum- 
mated re-union,  in  which  this  honored  servant  of  God 
was  permitted  to  participate,  was,  we  well  know,  to 
him  a  source  of  exalted  pleasure,  and  the  occasion  of 
devout  gratitude  to  God. 

Although  Dr.  Tustin's  general  health  had  been  for  a 
long  time  feeble,  yet,  by  the  favor  of  a  kind  Provi- 
dence, he  enjoyed,  up  to  the  hour  of  the  stroke  of  paraly- 
sis, which  proved  fatal,  a  good  measure  of  bodily 
strength,  and  the  full  vigorous  use  of  his  mental  facul- 
ties. Such  was  the  nature  of  the  attack  which  occurred 
on  Thursday  morning,  October  26, 1871,  and  so  decisive 
and  speedy  were  its  effects,  that,  without  any  material 
reaction,  on  Saturday  evening,  October  28,  he  fell 
sweetly  asleep  in  Jesus. 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  349 

In  family  worship,  on  the  evening  previous  to  his 
attack,  he  was  more  than  usually  animated,  praying  in  a 
spirit  of  fervor  that  seemed  almost  an  inspiration,  for 
his  family  and  friends,  the  saving  favor  of  his  covenant- 
keeping  God,  and  for  himself  that  he  might  be  prepared 
for  the  appointments  of  his  Father's  will.  The  work  of 
God's  servant  was  done ;  the  chariots  of  Israel  were 
rolling  down  the  ethereal  highway  to  bear  him  home, 
and  he  beheld  the  flashing  of  their  approaching  heavenly 
light. 

Of  Dr.  Tustin  as  a  pulpit  orator,  all  that  ever  heard 
him  bear  testimony  that  he  was  one  of  the  most  elo- 
quent and  impressive.  In  the  palmy  days  of  his  ministry 
crowds  of  attentive  listeners  were  wont  to  sit  entranced 
by  the  fervid  strains  of  his  impressive  declamation,  or 
subdued  to  deepest  sympathy  by  the  pathos  of  chast- 
ened thought.  His  discourses  were  composed  with 
great  care,  and  were  remarkable  for  clearness  of 
arrangement,  practical  tendency,  chaste  and  classical 
diction.  They  were  in  all  respects  model  compositions. 
As  a  pastor,  Dr.  Tustin  was  diligent,  judicious,  and 
faithful ;  as  a  presbyter,  courteous  to  his  brethren,  re- 
fined and  genial  in  social  intercourse;  and  as  a  hus- 
band, father,  and  friend,  an  exemplary  Christian. 

The  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  con- 
ferred upon  Mr.  Tustin  in  the  year  1852,  by  Jefferson 
College,  Pennsylvania. 

GARDINER    SPRING,    D.D.,    LL.D. 

Gardiner  Spring,  the  eldest  son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Spring,    D.D.,   of    Newburyport,    Massachusetts,   and 


350  PEESBYTEEIAN    CHUECH. 

grandson  of  Colonel  John  Spring,  of  Uxbridge,  Mas- 
sachusetts, was  born  in  the  towTi  of  Newburyport, 
Feburary  24,  1785. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  entered  Yale  College,  and 
soon  was  known  as  a  patient  and  diligent  student. 
Amono-  his  associates  were  John  C.  Calhoun,  and  Ben- 
net  Tyler. 

He  was  graduated,  as  valedictorian  of  his  class  in 
1805.  He  then  studied  law,  first  in  New  Haven,  and 
subsequently  on  the  island  of  Bermuda,  while  also  en- 
gaged as  a  classical  and  mathematical  teacher. 

Eeturning  after  two  years  to  New  Haven,  he  opened 
a  law  office  on  the  corner  of  Chapel  and  State  Streets. 

Becoming,  as  he  believed,  a  child  of  God  in  1803,  on 
April  24,  1809,  he  united  with  the  Centre  Church,  and 
during  the  same  summer,  after  hearing  a  sermon  from 
the  Kev.  Dr.  John  M.  Mason  upon  the  text,  "  To  the 
poor  the  Gospel  is  preached,"  he  commenced  the  study 
of  Theology  at  the  Andover  Seminary. 

In  May,  1810,  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
Brick  Presbyterian  Church,  New  York,  where  he  was 
installed  on  August  10,  1810.  From  this  date  until  his 
death,  August  18,  1873,  he  remained  pastor  of  the  Brick 
Church.  He  Avas  elected  President  of  Hamilton  Col- 
lege, and  afterwards  of  Dartmouth  College ;  but  in  each 
instance  he  declined  the  honor. 

While  throughout  his  whole  ministry  devoting  him- 
self exclusively  to  his  chosen  work  of  preaching  the 
Gospel,  he  republished  his  most  elaborate  discourses  in 
book  form.     Among  them  were  : 

Essays  on  the  distinguishing  Traits  of  Christian 
Character. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  351 

The  life  of  Samuel  J.  Mills. 

Interned  Evidences  of  In8])iration. 

Fragments  from  the  Study  of  a  Pastor. 

The  Obligations  of  tlie  World  to  the  Bible. 

The  Attraction  of  the  Cross. 

The  Bible  not  of  Man. 

The  Bethel  Flag. 

The  Poioer  of  the  Pulpit. 

The  Mercy  Seat. 

First  Things. 

The  Glory  of  Qhrist. 

The  Contrast. 

TJie  Mission  of  Sorrow. 

Pidpit  Ministrations. 

Personal  Reminiscences. 

Dr.  Spring  was  married  May  25,  1806,  to  Susan, 
dangliter  of  Captain  Barney,  of  New  Haven.  Mrs.  Susan 
Spring  was  spared  to  lier  husband  and  family  for  fifty- 
four  years,  until  August  7tli,  1860.  Dr.  Spring  was 
married  to  Abba  Grosvenor  Williams,  on  August  14tli, 
1861.  Mrs.  A.  G.  Spring  died  a  short  time  before  her 
husband. 

Dr.  Spring  was  a  man  of  erect  form  and  tall  stature. 
His  step  was  rapid,  his  manners  dignified,  his  whole 
appearance  betokening  the  seriousness  and  devotion  of 
one  who  was  always  and  everywhere  the  ambassador 
of  Christ.  His  view  of  the  duty  of  a  pastor  is  well 
expressed  in  his  "  Power  of  the  Pulpit,"  and  he  was 
himself  an  admirable  model  of  his  own  description  : 

"  Of  all  the  labors  of  a  minister,  the  most  important 
is  preparation  for  the  pulpit.     The  pulpit  is  his  great 


352 


PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


sphere  of  action ;  the  work  of  the  pulpit  is  the  great 
work  to  which  God  has  appointed  him ;  it  is  the  work 
in  which  most  is  effected  for 
the  great  object  of  that  ap- 
pointment. Every  preacher 
ouo'ht  to  do  all  that  in 
him  lies  to  give  effect  to 
his  preaching,  and  make 
everything  subserve  the  pul- 
pit.'' 

It  required  no  little  self -de- 
Rev.  Dr.  Spring.  ulal  aud  determination  to  ful- 
fil this  his  ideal.  Fond  of  judicial  cases  and  practiced 
in  their  conduct,  he  shunned  the  courts,  where  he  would 
have  been  a  welcomed  auditor  during  the  years  of  his 
early  ministry.  Not  unsocial  or  ascetic  in  tempera- 
ment, he  debarred  himself  from  many  companionships 
and  intimacies.  Urged  to  address  popular  assemblies, 
and  to  lecture  on  themes  of  current  interest  in  connec- 
tion with  other  public  speakers,  he  often  refused  such 
invitations.  He  even  abridged  or  avoided  many  visits 
from  house  to  house  that  would  have  cheered  and  edi- 
fied him.  Shutting  himself,  from  principle,  in  his 
library,  he  bestowed  his  best  hours,  his  most  devoted 
study,  his  severest  diligence  to  produce,  to  chastise, 
and  to  elaborate  discourses  that  were  for  his  hearers 
the  "  beaten  oil  of  the  sanctuary." 

Dr.  Spring's  long  ministry  was  in  all  respects  too 
interesting  and  too  important  to  be  duly  reviewed  in 
a  sketch  of  a  few  pages.  He  came  to  New  York  as  a 
New  England  man,  and  during  his  first  years  in  the 
city,  his  church  gathered  to  it  a  large  proportion  of 


BIOGRAPinCAL    SKETCHES.  353 

persons  wlio  had  come  from  the  New  England  States. 
Numerous  revivals  occurred  under  his  faithful  preach- 
ing. His  sermons  to  the  impenitent  were  singularly 
solemn  and  powerful,  and  awoke  at  different  times  de- 
termined opposition. 

His  efforts  in  behalf  of  every  benevolent  society 
were  constant  and  full  of  influence. 

He  was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  "  New  York 
Evangelical  Missionary  Society  of  Young  Men." 

He  signed  the  call  of  a  meeting,  which,  held  in  the 
session-room  of  the  Brick  Church,  resulted  in  forming 
the  "  American  Home  Missionary  Society,"  before 
which  he  j)reached  the  annual  sermon  in  1823. 

He  was,  as  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  1831,  in- 
fluential upon  what  was  then  called  the  "  Committee 
of  Compromise,"  that  secured  the  permanence  and  har- 
mony of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Domestic  Mis- 
sions. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Andover  Seminary  when 
Mills,  Hall,  Judson,  Newell,  and  Nott  there  laid  the 
foundations  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  Foreiojn  Missions.  He  attended  the  meetino^  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  Massachusetts  that  prepared  the 
plan  of  this  Society.  His  father  was  one  of  its  found- 
ers, and  in  this  father's  church  its  first  collection  was 
taken.  It  was  then  said  of  Dr.  Samuel  Spring :  "  The 
Doctor  has  given  us  a  grand  sermon,  and  he  has 
23reached  all  the  jack-knives  out  of  the  sailors'  pockets." 

From  that  hour  the  son  was  a  constant  friend  of  this 
society.  He  corresponded  with  its  first  missionaries ;  he 
became  a  corporate  member  in  1824.  He  attended  most 
of  its  anniversaries,  and  j^reached  its  Annual  Sermon  at 


354  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

Utica,  in  1835.  When  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  he  became 
active  in  its  behalf.  Indeed,  one  of  the  Ruling  Elders 
of  the  Brick  Church  has  been  accustomed  to  say  that 
in  his  o^vn  parlor  the  initiatory  meeting  took  place 
whicli  resulted  in  the  founding  of  this  Board,  and  that 
his  pastor's  was  a  moving  spirit  in  its  progress. 

Of  the  Convention  that  formed  the  American  Bible 
Society  in  1816,  Dr.  Spring  was  a  member.  His  father, 
Dr.  Samuel  Spring,  was  also  present  as  a  representative 
of  the  Merrimack  Bible  Society  :  and  it  was  the  only 
occasion  on  which  the  father  and  the  son  occupied  the 
floor  of  the  same  deliberative  body.  Dr.  Spring  was 
from  that  day  devoted  to  the  interests  of  this  Society. 
He  served  on  its  Committees,  being  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Versions  for  very  many  years.  His 
Dissertation  on  the  Rule  of  Faith  Avas  preached  in 
1844,  by  request  of  the  friends  of  this  Society. 

Other  associations  that  still  live  to  bless  the  world 
found  in  Dr.  Spring  a  powerful  helper.  The  American 
Tract  Society  and  the  Ameiican  Colonization  Society 
are  among  them.  His  name  stands  in  the  list  of  Presi- 
dents of  the  New  York  Colonization  Society,  and  of 
many  other  benevolent  associations.  In  the  Sabbath 
Reform,  he  took  an  early  and  lasting  interest.  He  did 
much  to  save  God's  day  from  desecration  by  preaching 
upon  the  obligations  of  the  Sabbath,  and  by  encourag- 
ing societies  and  committees  formed  to  protect  it.  He 
constantly  aflirmed  it  to  be  "  the  envelope  which  A^Taps 
up  all  the  means  of  grace  and  salvation." 

When  the  question  of  the  Reunion  of  the  two 
branches  of  the  Church  was  first  discussed,  Dr.  Spring 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  355 

exhibited  a  profound  interest  in  it,  and  used  all  his 
efforts  to  promote  it. 

And  when  it  was  finally  accomplished,  and  in  his  own 
church  the  steps  were  taken  to  consummate  it  in  the 
coming  autumn,  he  seemed  to  be  overjoyed,  and  said 
with  aged  Simeon,  "  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  Thy  servant 
depart  in  peace  according  to  Thy  word,  for  mine  eyes 
have  seen  Thy  salvation." 

Retired  from  active  pastoral  duty,  his  last  days  were 
passed  in  quiet  and  hopeful  waiting  for  the  hour  of  his 
departure.  And  sweetly  falling  asleep  in  Jesus,  he 
rests  from  his  labors,  and  his  works  follow  him. 


/Ul'^-T'-yn^-'ZXy'     XZ^2^^<^t-2Z.-y^^ 


p^nT    II 


EvEEY  vigorous  association  lias  an  organic  life,  which 
is  marked  more  or  less  clearly  by  individual  character- 
istics. This  is  especially  true  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 
In  a  subordinate  sense,  it  is  true  of  each  of  the  di- 
visions of  the  Church.  The  Greek,  the  Roman,  the 
Protestant  Chui'ch  —  each  is  indi\ddual.  The  same  is 
true  of  denominations,  and  of  the  minor  divisions  into 
which  denominations  are  separated.  The  history  of  a 
Chm'ch,  therefore,  must  be  treated  somewhat  as  we  treat 
that  of  a  man, — presenting  it  in  its  personal  character, 
as  well  as  in  its  relations.  In  ^\Titing  even  single  chap- 
ters of  such  a  histoiy,  some  analysis  must  be  made  of 
the  elements  and  forces  which  give  the  history  its  tone. 

The  Presbyterian  Chui'ch  of  America,  for  example, 
may  be  compared  to  the  Mediterranean,  if  not  to  the 
Atlantic.     It  has  a  direct  connection  mth  the  Chui'ch 


:biogeaphical  sketches.  357 

universal,  as  the  inlying  has  with  the  outlying  sea.  The 
great  tides  may  flow  into  it,  as  they  run  through  the 
Straits  of  Gibraltar ;  but  it  is,  to  some  extent,  what  its 
tributaries  make  it.  It  has  its  divisions,  as  the  Medi- 
terranean has  its  Adi'iatic  and  its  ^gean ;  but  each  of 
these  divisions  contains  some  peculiarities,  depending  in 
part  upon  position,  in  part  upon  what  is  brought  down 
into  it.  What  even  a  tributary  shall  be  depends  upon 
the  springs  which  I'un  among  the  hills. 

Oui'  present  j^urpose  is  to  indicate  some  of  the  earthly 
sources  from  which  what  was  recently  known  as  the 
New  School  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States 
derived  its  life,  while  separated  from  that  portion  of  the 
Church  of  which  it  once  formed  and  now  forms  an  in- 
tegral part,  by  a  ridge,  which,  thro\vn  up  in  a  period  of 
convulsion,  has  gradually  subsided  in  a  period  of  calm. 
We  cannot,  however,  specify  all  of  even  the  most  im- 
portant of  these  sources.  For  obvious  reasons,  we 
must  confine  ourselves  to  notices  of  those  whose 
earthly  lives  are  already  terminated,  though  conscious 
of  the  imperfection  which  such  a  restriction  neces- 
sitates. 

Some  of  those  who  have  contributed  most  to  the  indi- 
vidual character  of  the  New  School  Church,  still  remain 
with  us,  Seri  in  coelum  redeant.  We  must  be  silent  re- 
sj)ecting  some  of  whom  we  are  not  permitted  to  speak. 

We  have,  indeed,  less  space  than  we  could  wish,  for 
reference  to  those  of  whom  we  may  speak.  Some  hon- 
ored names  will  be  missed  by  the  reader  from  these 
scant  pages.  Let  our  excuse  for  silence  respecting  them 
be,  that  oui'  pui'pose  is  not  that  of  the  biographer,  so 
much  as  that  of  the  analyzer ;  hence,  a  few  of  those  who 


358  PRESBYTERIAN    CKURCH. 

have  contributed  to  tlie  individnal  life  of  the  Chui'ch, 
must  stand  as  representatives  of  the  rest.* 

The  first  officers  of  this  diAasion  of  the  Church  after 
the  separation,  were :  Samuel  Fisher,  D.D.,  Moderator ; 
the  Rev.  E.  AV.  Gilbert,  and  Ersktne  ]\Iason,  D.D. 
Clerks. 

These  officers  were  well  chosen.  All  of  them  were 
strong  and  judicious  men.  Dr.  Fisher  had  long  been 
known  in  the  Church  as  one  of  its  most  faithful  workers 
and  wisest  counsellors.  At  the  period  of  the  division,  he 
was  in  his  sixty-first  year.  He  was  born  in  Sunderland, 
Mass.,  June,  1777.  His  father,  an  officer  in  the  Army  of 
the  Revolution,  had  died  a  short  time  previous  at  Mor- 
ristown,  N.J.  He  resided  duiing  his  boyhood  with  an 
uncle, — Dr.  Ware,  at  Conway,  Mass.  He  was  graduated 
at  Williams  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty -thi'ee ;  and 
pursued  his  theological  studies  in  part  with  Dr.  Hyde, 
of  Lee.  His  first  pastorate  was  at  Wilton,  Conn.,  where 
he  was  ordained,  in  1805.  In  1809,  he  was  sent  by  the 
General  Association  of  Connecticut,  to  represent  that 
body  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Chui'ch  at  Philadelj)hia.  Here,  he  formed  an  acquain- 
tance with  Rev.  Dr.  Richards,  of  MorristoAvn,  and  ac- 
companied him  to  that  place  for  a  \dsit  to  the  scene  of 
his  father's  decease.  This  visit  opened  for  him  the  door 
into  the  Presbj^erian  Chm*ch,  as,  soon  after,  Dr.  Rich- 
ards i-emoved  to  Newark,  and  Mr.  Fisher  was  in^dted  to 
take  chai'ge  of  the  Morristown  congregation.  The  call 
was  accepted.     The  congregation  was  one  of  the  largest 

*  The  materials  for  these  sketches  were  collected  from  various  sources ;  but 
we  are  specially  indebted  to  Sprague's  Annals  of  t/ie  American  Pulint,  and 
Wilson's  Presbyterian  Historical  Almanac. 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  359 

in  Now  Jersey,  embracing,  as  it  did,  over  five  hundred 
families,  and  covering  a  wide  territoiy.  His  ministry 
here  was  most  acceptable  and  useful ;  but  ended  in  the 
year  1814,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  Paterson,  where  he  remained  twenty 
years,  pursuing  his  duties  with  signal  success,  and  exert- 
ing a  powerful  influence  within  and  far  beyond  the 
bounds  of  his  parish. 

In  the  summer  of  1834,  warned  by  failing  health  to 
seek  less  arduous  duties  than  those  which  had  multi- 
plied around  him  in  this  long  and  important  pastorate, 
he  resigned  his  charge.  His  ministry,  after  this  pe- 
iod,  was  comj^aratively  broken,  though  he  continued  to 
labor  for  many  years  at  Kamapo,  at  Greenbush,  N.Y., 
and  at  other  places.  He  died  in  1856,  with  the  depart- 
ing year,  in  the  family  of  one  of  his  children  in  New 
Jersey. 

The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon 
him  by  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  in  1827;  and  he 
honored  the  title.  As  a  theologian,  he  was  clear  and 
thorough.  His  abilities  in  this  department  of  thought, 
were  so  highly  respected,  that  he  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  candidates  for  the  professorship  of  theology 
in  Aubui'n  Seminary,  at  its  founding.  Agreeing  very 
nearly  in  his  views  mth  Dr.  Spring,  of  New  Yoik,  who 
was  always  prominent  in  the  Old  School  Church  after 
the  division,  he  believed  in  the  substantial  soimdness  of 
the  New  School,  and  so  sought  to  prove  in  the  sermon 
which  he  preached  before  the  General  Assembly,  when 
resigning  the  Moderator's  chair  in  1839. 

As  a  Preacher,  he  was  direct,  instructive,  scriptural, 
and  in  the  highest  sense,  popular.     Of  no  vivid  fancy, 


360  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

he  possessed  tlie  power  of  vivid  statement.  He  under- 
stood  "  tlie  art  of  putting  things."  By  no  long,  involved, 
and  glittering  sentences,  did  lie  at  once  please  and  he- 
wilder.  His  utterances  were  crisp  and  unniistakahle. 
The  common  people*  heard  him  gladly,  and  the  most 
intelliirent  were  interested  and  satisfied. 

"  There  was  in  his  preaching,"  says  Dr:  Magie,  long 
his  neighbor  and  intimate  friend,  "  a  sort  of  naturalness 
of  tone,  of  style,  of  delivery,  which  used  to  interest  me 
exceedingly.  It  was  the  simplicity  of  a  child,  yet  a 
simplicity  consistent  with  robust  thought.  No  one, 
probably,  ever  suspected  that  there  was  a  spice  of  affec- 
tation in  the  free,  open  countenance,  in  the  clear,  impres- 
sive eye.  It  was  impossible  to  doubt  his  deep  sincerity 
of  soul.  As  he  became  warmed  with  his  subject,  the 
tender  accents  and  suffused  eye  told  his  hearers  how 
much  concerned  he  felt  for  their  welfare." 

Among  those  who  heard  him  preach  occasionally  in 
the  pulpit  of  Dr.  Kichards,  at  Newark,  was  a  young 
student-at-law,  who  has  since  become  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  lights  of  the  American  pulpit, — Dr.  S^V3iuel 
Hanson  Cox.  This  young  man,  not  yet  a  Chi-istian, 
listened  to  Mr.  Fisher  with  no  common  attention ;  and 
when  himself  a  preacher  of  wide  popularity,  he  retained 
an  unabating  respect  for  one  who  had  early  inspii-ed 
him  "  mth  a  general  awe  of  God,  whose  ways  he  vindi- 
cated mth  sincerity  and  masteiy  of  manner."  The  de- 
votion of  Dr.  Fisher  to  the  interests  of  the  Church,  is 
well  illustrated  by  a  reminiscence  which  Dr.  Cox  thus 
recalls :  — 

"  AVhen  I  was  first  elected  Moderator  of  Presbytery, 
I  remember  we  met  in  his  parish  at  Paterson.     He  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  361 

just  recovering  from  a  perilous  attack  of  sickness.  We 
hesitated  about  meeting  tliere,  but  were  m-ged  by  pas- 
tor and  people.  So  we  came,  but  witli  no  idea  of  see- 
ing him  in  Presbytery.  On  the  morning  of  the  second 
day,  however,  he  entered  most  abruptly,  to  the  aston- 
ishment and  grief  of  his  brethren.  He  looked  reduced, 
haggard,  wan,  and  scarcely  able  to  walk ;  when  he 
spoke  instantly,  as  follows :  — 

"  '  Mr.  Moderator,  I  could  not  be  easy  without  leaving 
my  couch,  and  at  least  reporting  myself  in  Presbytery. 
I  am  grieved,  when  you  are  here,  not  to  be  able  to  serve 
you,  and  to  enjoy  the  expected  pleasure  of  your  society. 
I  have  been  very  sick ;  but  have  reason  to  thank  God 
for  my  present  convalescence.  My  brethren  will,  I 
know,  sustain  my  reasons  for  absence.  I  pray  the  Lord 
to  be  with  you,  and  hope  you  will  remember  me  and 
mine  in  your  prayers.' 

"  The  effort  was  almost  too  much  for  him.  Two  mem- 
bers rushed  to  his  support,  and  led  him  to  his  chamber 
again,  with  increasing  admiration  of  his  character,  and 
love  of  his  companionship." 

By  reason  of  age  and  weakened  physical  powers,  he 
was  not  conspicuous  in  the  Church  after  the  division ; 
but  was  generally  beloved  and  trusted  to  the  end. 

In  the  year  1814,  a  number  of  students  from  Prince- 
ton Theological  Seminary  visited  Wilmington,  Del,  to 
labor  in  the  spiritual  harvest-field.  An  extensive  revival 
was  prevailing.  Among  these  students  was  Eliphalet 
W.  Gilbert,*  then  in  the  junior  year  of  his  Seminary 
course.     His  efforts  in  this  revival  were  so  peculiarly 

*  Bom  in  Lebanon,  Columbia  County,  N.Y.,  Dec.  19th,  1793. 


362  PRESBYTERIAN    CUURCH. 

blessed,  that,  as  soon  after  liis  licensure  as  his  sendees 
could  be  commanded  as  pastor,  lie  was  mtb  great  una 
nimity  recalled  to  Wilmington  and  settled  over  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church.  There  he  remained  un 
til  1834,  during  which  year  he  accepted  the  Presidenc)- 
of  Delaware  College.  He  returned,  however,  to  Wil- 
mington in  the  following  year,  in  obedience  to  the  call 
of  the  Hanover  Street  Chui-ch.  In  1841,  he  became 
once  more  President  of  Delaware  College,  and  retained 
this  office  until  1847,  when  he  accepted  a  call  fi-om  the 
Western  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia.  Here  he 
remained  until  his  death,  in  1853. 

The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon 
him  by  the  University  of  Vermont,  in  the  year  1841. 

He  was  a  man  of  clear  mind  and  of  decided  views ; 
skilled  as  a  controversialist,  yet  of  such  courtesy  to  his 
opponents,  that  when  the  joust  was  over  they  were 
among  the  first  to  sit  down  in  his  tent.  He  was  "  mighty 
in  the  Scriptures,"  and  studied  them  with  constant  care. 
His  effort  as  a  preacher  was  to  set  forth  the  truth  in 
strong,  sharp  outlines ;  yet  these  outlines  were  often  il- 
luminated and  tinted  by  vivid  lights  and  touches.  He 
was  an  omnivorous  reader,  and  drew  knowledge  and  il- 
lustration fi'om  eveiy  available  soui'ce.  In  the  discus- 
sions of  theological  questions  he  charmed  his  hearers 
by  crystalline  statements,  acute  distinctions,  and  the  play- 
ful radiance  which  lie  threw  over  all.  His  life  ran  into 
that  of  tlie  Church  at  large  like  a  clear,  bright  stream, 
whose  qualities  were  only  diffused,  not  lost  after  the 
stream  had  ceased  to  flow. 

Dr.  Erskine   Mason  had  a  mind  in  some  respects 


BIOGEAPinCAL    SKETCHES.  863 

like  that  of  Dr.  Gilbert ;  but  more  higUy  cultured  and 
more  I'oundly  developed.  His  great  centre  of  influence 
was  tLat  of  tlie  pulpit.  It  has  been  justly  maintained 
by  one  of  our  distinguished  men,  that  the  normal  posi- 
tion of  Presbyterianism,  socially  considered,  is  interme- 
diate, and  thus  most  favorable  for  reaching  and  mould- 
ing all  ranks  of  society.  Dr.  Mason's  influences  went 
upward  and  outward  upon  some  of  the  most  intelligent 
persons  of  his  day.  The  son  of  one  of  the  most  cele- 
brated preachers  America  has  produced  f'  brought  up 
in  our  commercial  metropolis,  where  he  came  in  con- 
stant contact  with  men  of  wealth  and  culture,  —  all  the 
associations  and  habits  of  his  early  life  fitted  him  for  the 
station  he  was  to  occupy.  He  did  not  inherit  all  the 
mental  qualities  of  his  father.  His  heart  was  incapa- 
ble of  those  fervors  which  sometimes  rendered  the  elo- 
quence of  his  father  so  grand.  He  had  not  that  versa- 
tility which  gave  his  father  a  supreme  eminence  in  the 
pulpit,  on  the  platform,  in  the  class-room,  or  in  the  so- 
cial circle.  Yet  in  him  some  of  the  best  qualities  of 
the  sire  were  reproduced.  He  had,  perhaps,  even  more 
logical  power.  He  would  never  have  been  styled  a  popu- 
lar preacher  by  those  to  whom  eloquence  is  a  matter  of 
pulse  and  thrill.  He  never  had  occasion  to  complain  of 
that  "  popularity  of  stare  and  pressure  and  animal  heat " 
which  Dr.  Chalmers  deplored.  The  crowds  drifted  into 
other  churches  than  his. 

We  remember  hearing  him  once  in  the  church  in 
Bleecker  Street,  N.Y.,  which  was  so  long  identified  with 
his  name.      Our  seat  was  in  the  half-empty  gallery. 

*  Erskiae  Mason  was  the  youngest  child  of  Dr.  John  M.  Mason,  and  was 
bom  in  the  city  of  New  York,  April  16th,  1805. 


364  PEESBYTERIAlSr    CHURCH. 

Tlie  audience  upon  the  main  floor  was  tliin  and  scattered. 
But  probably  no  churcli  in  tlie  city  contained  at  that 
moment  a  larger  proportion  of  tlie  students  of  the  Union 
Theological  Seminary.  He  was  the  prime  favorite  of 
that  school  of  the  prophets.  We  felt  sure,  as  we  looked 
and  listened,  that  were  he  preaching  to  these  students 
alone,  he  would  through  them  reach  many  thousands. 
They  were  lenses  gathering  light  to  scatter  it  abroad. 
But  in  the  pews  sat  also  some  of  the  most  influential 
men-  of  the  denomination.  Preaching  to  those  who 
helped  to  fashion  the  thought  and  the  polity  of  the 
Church,  he  exerted  a  power  whose  sources  were  never 
known  by  multitudes  who  felt  it.  Controlling  the  pe- 
cuniary resoui'ces  of  men  of  wealth,  he  wrought  in 
every  work  of  benevolence  to  which  they  contributed. 
Some  of  the  most  distinguished  jurists  in  the  land  were 
among  his  auditors.  To  them  he  brought  proof  of  the 
positions  he  assiuned.  And,  accustomed  as  they  were 
to  the  analysis  of  argument,  they  listened  with  an  in- 
terest like  that  which  is  felt  in  the  court-room,  and  mtli 
a  satisfaction  far  greater  than  that  often  derived  fi-om 
learned  expositions  of  earthly  law. 

Yet  he  ^vas  not  a  man  of  cold  intellect.  His  thoughts 
were  often  warmed  by  a  pathos  which  broke  thougli 
their  white  lights,  and  made  them  tremulous  as  with  an 
inward  fire.  He  frequently  addressed  the  consciences 
of  his  hearers  in  powerful  appeal.  None  could  more 
forcibly  apply  the  great  principles  of  God's  law.  Few 
could  more  deeply  move  the  heart  by  the  presentation 
of  the  Cross.  His  discourses  were  always  carefully 
prepared,  and  delivered  from  manuscript.  Even  his 
more  familiar  lectures  were  put  together  with  unusual 


BIOGRAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  365 

care  and  sMll.  He  was  never  distinguislied  for  extem- 
poraneous speech ;  Ms  liabits  and  constitutional  tenden- 
cies were  unfavorable  to  it.  He  loved  a  perfect  argu 
ment  better  than  a  glowing  peroration.  He  was  a 
quiet  man,  and  avoided  every  thing  tliat  might  look  like 
display.  He  was  a  lover  of  peace  and  order.  There 
was  more  than  a  dash  of  heroic  blood  in  his  father's 
veins,  and  he  was  always  ready  for  the  chai'ge  or  the 
fray ;  but  the  son  was  not  less  loyal  to  God  and  the 
truth.  His  coui'age  fitted  him  for  the  defence  of  the 
citadel,  if  not  for  the  struggle  of  "  the  imminent  and 
deadly  breach.'" 

He  was  sincerely  attached  to  the  division  of  the  Chui'ch 
into  which  he  fell  with  his  Presbytery  in  1838,  and 
served  it  well  until  1851,  when,  at  the  early  age  of 
forty-six,  he  died.  He  maintained  to  the  last,  a  sj^ecial 
interest  in  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  having  given 
to  it  much  of  his  time  for  six  years  as  the  occujjant  of 
its  Chair  of  Ecclesiastical  History. 

Among  the  princes  of  the  pulpit,  whose  influence 
penetrated  the  more  educated  classes  at  the  time  of  the 
division,  none  is  more  deserving  of  mention  than  Dr. 
Edward  D.  Geiefin.  His  influence,  however,  upon  this 
branch  of  the  Church  was  mainly  posthumous,  as  he 
died  in  Newark,  November  8th,  1837.  We  will  there- 
fore, make  no  attempt  to  sketch  his  life  and  character. 

Had  we  space  to  occupy  with  even  outlined  sketches 
of  all  now  deceased  who  were  prominent  in  the  New 
School  Church  at  the  period  of  separation,  we  should 
give  conspicuous  place  to  such  men  as  Ezra  S.  Ely,  D.D. 


366  PEESBYTERIAK    CHURCH. 

distinguislied  as  preacher,  as  editor,  as  educator ;  and 
Dr.  Absolom  Peters,  unsurpassed  as  a  parliamentarian : 
and  Drs.  Wm.  Hill  and  Gideon  N.  Judd.  We  must 
leave  names  only  at  some  points  where  we  would  rather 
hang  pictures. 

We  have  referred  to  Drs.  Mason  and  Griffin,  as  rep- 
resentative of  the  preachers  who  sent  theii*  influences  into 
the  more  cultured  classes  of  society.  Of  those  who,  at 
this  early  period,  wrought  upon  the  popular  heart,  none 
was  more  effective  among  the  masses  of  the  city,  than 
Dr.  James  Patterson,  of  Philadelphia.*  In  reading  the 
descriptions  left  us  of  his  person  and  character,  one  can 
scarce  avoid  thinking  of  him  as  of  some  Hebrew  prophet. 
To  oui'  fancy,  he  was  not  unlike  the  prophet  Jeremiah, 
who  is  compared  by  an  English  scholar  to  the  thin-vis- 
aged,  fiery -souled  Dante.  "  In  Dante,  as  in  the  prophet,  we 
find  —  miited,  it  is  true,  with  gi-eater  strength  and  stern- 
ness —  that  intense  susceptibility  to  the  sense  of  wi'ong, 
which  shows  itself  sometimes  in  passionate  complaint, 
sometimes  in  bitter  words  of  invective  and  reproach.  In 
both,  we  find  the  habit  of  mind  which  selects  an  image 
not  for  its  elegance  or  sublimity,  but  for  what  it  means ; 
not  shrinldng  even  from  what  seems  grotesque  or  tri^dal, 
sometimes  veiling  its  meaning  in  allusions  more  or  less 
dark  and  enigmatic." 

The  impression  thus  defined,  is  confirmed  by  the  de- 
scription of  one  who  knew  Dr.  Patterson  long  and  well. 
"At  least  six  feet  in  height,  and  so  lank  that  he  seemed 
still  taller ;  eyes  black,  and  set  deep  in  his  head ;  coal- 1 

•  Bom  at  Ervina,  Pa.,  March  18th,  1779. 


BIOGEAPHIOAL   SKETCHES.  367 

black,  straight  hair ;  skin  dark,  and  complexion  so  pale, 
as  often  to  seem  cadaverous ;  high  cheek-bones,  and 
large  mouth ;  all  wrought  by  labor,  responsibility,  ner- 
vous sympathy,  and  feeble  health,  into  an  expression, 
grave,  almost  sad ;  his  eyes  often  streaming  with  tears, 
and  his  voice  in  its  higher  tones,  shrill,  piercing,  lugu- 
brious, or  severe, — he  seemed  like  an  old  prophet  of 
Israel,  risen  from  the  dead  —  a  messenger  from  another 
world  come  to  warn  the  wicked  to  flee  fi'om  the  wrath 
to  come." 

He  was  by  no  means  without  early  cultivation.  Nor 
did  he  begin  his  ministry  in  the  use  of  headlong  methods. 
Educated  at  Jefferson  College,  he  employed  himself  for 
some  time  as  a  teacher  of  the  classics.  Pui'suing  his 
theological  studies  at  Princeton,  his  earlier  sermons  were 
marked  by  careful  elaborations  of  thought  and  style. 
But  he  soon  changed  his  mode  of  address,  in  obedience, 
doubtless,  to  the  laws  of  his  individuality ;  yet  also  in 
consequence  of  a  conviction  that  his  great  pui'pose, 
which  was  the  speediest  conversion  of  the  largest  num- 
ber of  souls,  could  be  effected  by  a  simple,  unadorned, 
vigorous  handling  of  the  truth.  His  passion  for  souls 
was  intense.  Here,  again,  we  are  reminded  of  Jeremiah. 
"  Oh,  that  my  head  were  waters,  and  mine  eyes  a  foun- 
tain of  tears,  that  I  might  weep  day  and  night  for  the 
slain  of  the  daughters  of  my  people."  Yet,  unlike  Jere- 
miah, he  never  wished  that  he  "  had  in  the  wilderness, 
a  lodging-place  of  wayfaring  men,"  that  he  might  sepa- 
rate himself  from  those  whose  wickedness  he  deplored. 
On  the  contrary,  when,  in  1814,  he  assumed  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  First  Presbyterian  Chui'ch,  in  what  was  tlien 
styled  the  "Northern   Liberties"  of   Philadelphia,  he 


"368  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

applied  himself  to  liis  work  with  all  his  vigor.  Sur- 
rounded by  "  the  poor,  the  illiterate,  the  anirQalized,  the 
stupid,  the  heathenish,"  he  adopted  every  available 
means  to  reach  them.  Dr.  Mason  would  never  adver- 
tise his  church  services.  Dr.  Patterson  used  all  the 
machinery  of  advertising, —  circulating  handbills,  dis 
playing  placards  on  the  walls,  announcing  novel  texts 
and  subjects;  then  when  the  people  were  attracted  to 
his  church,  pleasing  them  with  quaint  illustrations,  that 
he  might,  after  gaining  theii*  attention,  drive  the  truth 
home  into  theii*  hearts.  He  believed  in  revivals,  and  in 
promoting  them  by  every  legitimate  means.  He  believed 
in  work,  and  infused  his  energy  into  all  about  him.  He 
had  little  patience  with  a  drone.  He  loved  to  think  of 
God  as  making  "His  angels,  spirits.  His  ministers  a 
flaming  fire."  His  revulsion  fi'om  the  arts  of  a  re- 
fined pojoularity,  led  him  sometimes  to  distrust  the  meth- 
ods of  those  of  his  brethren  whose  natures  were  tuned 
to  a  different  key ;  but  this  only  made  him  the  more 
popular  with  the  masses,  who  gave  him  theii-  affec- 
tion and  yielded  to  his  persuasions  in  a  remarkable 
dec^ree. 

In  the  courts  of  the  Church  he  was  the  same  impul- 
sive, yet  true-hearted  man  that  he  was  in  pulpit  and  par- 
isli.  He  was  ardently  attached  to  any  cause  which  he 
espoused,  and  is  remembered  by  those  ^viih  ^vhom  he 
■\vas  associated  after  the  division,  as  one  of  their  "warm- 
est and  most  efiiicient  fi'iends.  And  at  last,  when  it  ^vas 
announced  that  he  was  dead,  "  there  was  one  unanimous 
lament  throughout  the  city.  His  praise  was  on  all  lips, 
and  at  least  ten  thousand  people,  of  all  characters  and 
classes,  came  to  drop  a  tear  on  the  dust  of  one  who 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  369 

had  faithfully  served  God,  in  spending  his  life  to  sanc- 
tify and  save  the  lost." 

As  representative  of  those  who  at  this  period  preached 
the  Gospel  most  effectively  among  the  scattered  popu- 
lation of  the  frontier,  we  select,  mthout  hesitation.  Dr. 
Gideon  Blackburn.*  Born  in  one  of  the  counties  of 
Virginia  which  touched  the  wilderness,  his  early  tastes 
were  those  of  the  woods  and  the  hills.  His  ministry 
commenced  about  the  year  1792,  in  what  were  then  the 
wilds  of  Tennessee,  among  a  people  inm^ed  to  hardship, 
and  constantly  exposed  to  assault  from  hostile  Indian 
tribes.  This  exposm-e  had  occasioned  the  establishment 
of  many  forts  in  the  region.  To  one  of  these  forts,  that 
of  Maryville,  the  young  preacher  marched  with  a  com- 
pany of  soldiers,  clad  in  a  hunting-shirt  and  carrying 
his  trusty  rifle.  He  was  the  Daniel  Boone  of  the  pul- 
pit ;  and  when  in  his  frequent  excursions  from  one  fort 
to  another,  he  gathered  the  settlers —  as  he  delighted  to 
do  —  for  worship,  he  often  preached  under  the  shadow 
of  a  tree,  his  rifle  leaning  against  the  trunk,  while  his  au- 
ditors supported  themselves  on  their  weapons.  His  hab- 
its of  preaching  thus  formed  were  direct  and  "  off-hand." 
The  woodsman  despises  a  preacher  who  cannot  shoot  or 
speak  "  without  a  rest."  In  later  days,  and  before  more 
cultivated  audiences,  he  never  used  a  manuscript.  He 
seldom  wrote  his  sermons.  The  associations  of  the  for- 
est always  clung  to  him.  His  method  of  preparing  his 
discourses  was  to  make  the  survey  of  his  subject  while 
on  his  feet,  fixing  Ms  points  the  while  by  some  sudden 

*  Son  of  Robert  Blackburn,  and  bom  in  Augusta  County,  Va. ,  August  27, 
1772. 

24 


370  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

daslies  of  liis  i:)en.  As  he  liimself  describes  it,  "lie 
blazed  his  path." 

It  would  be  a  mistake,  however,  to  suppose  hiui  rough 
in  manner  or  in  character.  He  was  of  erect  and  manly 
figure ;  his  bearing  was  that  of  a  soldiei',  graceful  and 
dignified.  He  was  never  a  critical  scholar ;  and  some- 
times provoked  the  criticisms  of  the  fastidious  by  care- 
less expressions  or  by  unsoimd  pronunciation.  He  was 
a  good  scholar,  nevertheless,  and  once  disarmed  a  classi- 
cal hearer  ])y  an  apt  illustration  from  Xenophon.  His 
language  in  the  pulpit  was  as  free  as  the  winds  among 
the  oaks,  and  as  vivid  as  the  sunlight  on  the  leaves.  He 
especially  excelled  in  word-painting.  His  descriptions 
were  revelations.  His  hearers  seemed  rather  to  see  than 
to  listen.  When  describing  the  crucifixion,  the  cross 
stood  out  on  the  mount  beneath  a  darkened  sky.  When 
depicting  the  scene  of  the  plague  of  the  serpents,  his 
hearers  involuntarily  turned  to  look  at  the  sufferer,  as, 
pointing  with  his  finger,  he  cried,  "  There  !  see  that  wo- 
man !  one  of  the  serpents  has  just  struck  her  and  she 
is  fainting  ! "  It  is  doubtful  whether  Whitfield  was 
ever  more  powerful  than  he  was  in  some  of  his  higher 
moods. 

In  his  later  life,  he  devoted  himself  to  the  interests 
of  education,  and  was  as  successful  among  his  pupils 
as  he  was  in  the  pulpit.  During  three  years  he  was 
President  of  Centre  College,  Kentucky,  and  subsequent- 
ly devoted  himself  to  the  foundation  of  an  institution 
for  the  education  of  ministers  at  Carlinville,  111.,  which 
by  his  foresight  is  now  liberally  endowed,  though  it 
has  not  yet  attained  the  position  among  seminaries 
which  he  desi2;ned  to  secure  for  it. 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  371 

He  can  scarcely  be  described  as  an  ecclesiastical 
leader.  He  was  too  far  from  ecclesiastical  centres  for 
that,  but  the  Cliurcli  acknowledged  liis  power,  and  will 
keep  kis  name  in  honorable  remembrance."^* 

What  Dr.  Blackburn  desisfued  for  the  theolo^-ical  edu- 
cation  of  the  Church,  has  been  abundantly  realized  in 
other  institutions  than  that  of  Carlinville.  One  of  the 
brightest  lights  of  Auburn  was  Dr.  James  Richards. 

Born  at  New  Canaan,  Ct.,  in  1767,  his  mind  developed 
so  rapidly  that  at  the  age  of  thirteen  he  became  teacher 
in  a  district  school.  His  early  desire  to  enter  the  min- 
istry was  gratified  aftei-  some  struggle  and  delay.  He 
was  ordained.  May  1st,  1797,  by  the  Pi'esbytery  of  New 
York,  and  at  the  same  time  installed  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Morristo^vn,N.  J.,whose  j^nlpit  he 
had  then  been  su]3plyiug  about  three  years.  He  soon 
became  so  favorably  known  in  the  Church  at  large,  that, 
in  1S05  he  was  elected  Moderator  of  the  General  As- 
sembly. He  was  then  but  thirty-seven  years  of  age. 
In  his  own  church  he  enjoyed  abundant  success.  Within 
two  years  after  his  installation,  more  than  one  hundred 
persons  were  gathered  into  the  Church  —  fruits  of  a  pow- 
erful revival. 

In  1809,  he  was  selected  by  the  Presbyterian  congre- 
gation at  Newark,  as  successor  to  Dr.  Griffin,  who  had 
been  invited  to  a  professorship  in  Andover.  To  occuj^y 
the  place  of  such  a  man  involved  no  small  I'esponsi- 
bility.  ]\Iost  men  would  have  shrunk  from  it.  Dr. 
Richards  was  fully  aware  of  the  difficulties  of  the  posi- 
tion offered  him,  yet  he  accepted  it.     He  had  no  hope 

*  Died  at  Carlinville,  August  23d,  1838. 


372  PEESBYTERIATT   CHURCH. 

of  reproducing  the  eloquence  wliicli  liad  rung  from  tLat 
pulpit.  Nor  did  lie  attempt  it.  He  had  faith  in  the 
truth,  though  his  trumpet  was  not  silver.  He  resolved 
to  give  the  whole  vigor  of  such  powers  as  God  had  be- 
stowed upon  him  to  his  work.  He  could  do  no  more  ; 
God  would  bless  him  in  that.  And  He  did.  Without 
affecting  even  the  literary  graces  of  style,  without  at- 
tempting to  carry  captive  the  fancy,  he  laid  deliberate 
siesre  to  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  his  hearers.  The 
issue  was  triumph.  The  Church  gained  in  strength  and 
in  numbers.  In  1811,  a  large  colony  went  from  it.  No 
better  proof  of  the  strength  of  Dr.  Richards  need  be 
furnished  than  that,  after  this  colony  had  recalled  Dr. 
Griffin  fi*om  Andover,  these  two  men  labored  side  by 
side,  with  perhaps  equal  honor  and  usefulness,  for  a  pe- 
riod of  six  years. 

Dr.  Richards's  merit  as  a  theologian  became  so  con- 
spicuous during  his  residence  at  Newark,  that  when,  in 
1819,  the  Theological  Seminary  of  Auburn  was  estab- 
lished by  the  Synod  of  Geneva,  he  was  imited  to 
occupy  its  principal  chair.  He  was  already  one  of  the 
Directors  of  the  Princeton  Seminary,  and  had  received 
the  degree  of  S.T.D.  in  one  year  from  both  Yale  and 
Union  Colles^es. 

When  first  invited  to  Auburn,  in  1820,  he  declined; 
but  when,  in  1823,  the  invitation  was  renewed,  he  re- 
versed his  former  decision,  and  entered  upon  liis  new 
duties  with  his  habitual  method  and  devotion. 

Seldom  has  a  mind  more  perfectly  balanced  been  ap- 
plied to  the  systematic  unfolding  of  theology.  Pi'o- 
founder  students  have  wrought  in  the  mines  of  relig- 
ious truth.     Men  of  more  genius  have  set  forth  some  of 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  373 

the  ideas  of  Revelation.  He  laid  no  claim  to  originality, 
but  he  was  a  careful  and  independent  explorer  of  regions 
vvliicli  otliers  had  traversed.  He  was  a  thorough  sui-- 
veyor  where  others  had  styled  themselves  discoverers. 
He  followed  no  path,  simply  because  some  great  man 
had  cut  it ;  yet  he  can  scarcely  be  said  to  have  cut  his 
own  way.  He  was  a  safe  teacher,  because  he  avoided 
all  extremes  ;  a  clear  teacher,  because  he  told  only  what 
he  knew ;  an  instructive  teacher,  because  he  showed  all 
portions  of  revealed  truth  in  their  relations. 

His  theological  stability  was  early  tested  by  the  revi- 
val excitements  which  prevailed  in  Western  New  York 
in  1826-7.  Evangelists,  with  novel  methods  of  preacliing 
and  of  labor,  went  from  village  to  village.  Fervor  often 
flamed  into  passion.  Denimciatious  were  hm-led  from  the 
pul23it  against  all  who  were  opposed  or  indifferent  to  the 
"  measures  "  adopted  for  the  conversion  of  souls.  Even 
public  prayer  was  sometimes  filled  with  violent  epithets 
against  those  who  were  "  keeping  sinners  out  of  heaven." 
The  President  of  Hamilton  College  is  said  to  have  been 
prayed  for  as  an  "  old  gray-headed  sinner,"  and  the  Al- 
mighty was  entreated  to  raze  the  walls  of  the  college  to 
the  ground,  if  necessaiy,  to  bring  the  President  and  his 
associates  to  "  a  better  mind."  The  excitement  reached 
Aubm'n.  Dr.  Richards  saw,  and  was  ready  to  confess, 
that  some  good  was  accomplished  by  the  means  which 
commended  themselves  neither  to  his  judgment  nor  his 
experience.  He  could  not  be  untrue  to  his  convictions. 
He  therefore  refused  to  give  the  new  methods  his  sanc- 
tion. The  whole  community  was  aroused.  Many  who 
had  been  large  contributors  to  the  Seminary  thought 
him  unwise.     He  was  charged  Avith  fighting  against  the 


374  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

Holy  Gliost.  Tlie  students  in  tlie  Seminaiy  cauglit  the 
prevailing  sentiment.  Some  wlio  had  hitherto  revered 
him  as  a  model  of  wisdom,  publicly  prayed  for  his  con 
version.  But  his  fii'mness  never  for  a  moment  gave 
way.  "  None  of  these  things  moved  him,  and  he  lived 
not  only  to  see  the  finger  of  scorn  which  had  been 
pointed  at  him  withdra^\Ti,  and  to  hear  the  voice  of 
obloquy  that  had  been  raised  against  him  die  away,  but 
to  know  that  his  course  had  met  the  approbation  of  the 
\nse  and  good  everywhere;  to  receive  in  some  in- 
stances, the  hearty  acknowledgments  of  those  who  had 
been  among  his  most  active  opponents." 

The  mental  and  moral  qualities  thus  exhibited,  emi- 
nently fitted  liim  for  the  trying  scenes  of  1837-8.  On 
account  of  the  peculiar  position  of  the  Auburn  Seminary, 
as  related  to  the  Synods  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
especially  to  that  of  Geneva,  all  eyes  were,  during  these 
years,  turned  to  Dr.  Eichards.  Well  did  he  bear  their 
scrutiny.  He  greatly  deplored  the  di\TLsion  of  the 
Church,  while,  with  clear  exactness,  he  set  forth  the  theo- 
logical tenets  of  the  congregations  by  which  he  was  sui'- 
rounded ;  and  in  so  doing,  unconsciously  contributed  even 
then,  to  that  reimion  which  he  was  never  to  see  unless 
through  eyes  celestial.  He  retained  at  once  the  confi- 
dence of  those  with  whom  the  di^dsion  left  him,  and  the 
respect  of  those  fi-om  whom  he  parted.  He  never  liked 
the  characteristic  titles  by  which  the  severed  bodies 
were  distinguished.  An  aged  woman  and  former  pa- 
risliioner,  once  asked  his  wife,  in  his  hearing,  whether  he 
were  a  New  School,  or  an  Old  School  man.  She  referred 
the  question  to  him,  and  received  the  reply :  "  My  dear, 
I  hope  I  belong  to  the  school  of  Christ." 


BIOGRAPHIC Ai    SKETCHES.  375 

It  is  not  pretended  that  a  careful  reader  of  liis  writ- 
ings will  approve  every  sentence  or  sentiment ;  but  the 
judgment  of  any  one  whose  mind  is  as  fair  as  his,  may 
be  relied  upon  to  pronounce  him  safe,  judicious,  and 
sound  —  a  man  whose  memory  as  a  Presbyterian,  the 
whole  Church  may  cherish  with  veneration  and  love. 

His  portrait  fitly  adorns  the  opening  of  this  chapter 
of  a  Reunion  Memorial,  as  that  of  one  who  both  by  life 
and  character,  reminds  us  that  we  are  to  be  neither  of 
Paul,  nor  of  Apollos,  nor  of  Cephas,  but  of  Cueist. 

Closely  associated  mth  Dr.  Richards,  both  as  pupil, 
and  as  fellow-teacher,  was  Dr.  Hekry  Mills.  He  was 
born  at  Morristown,  N.J.,  in  1786,  and  graduated  at 
the  College  of  New  Jersey,  in  1802.  For  some  years 
after  his  graduation,  he  was  occupied  in  teaching,  and 
in  the  enjoyment  of  such  forms  of  culture  as  prepared 
him  for  the  principal  work  of  his  life.  His  theological 
studies  were  directed  by  Dr.  Richards,  then  at  Newark. 
In  1816,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Woodbridge,  N.  J.  As  a 
preacher,  his  style  was  simj^le,  warm  and  pure.  His 
sermons  were  elevated  and  spii-itual.  Possessed  of  a 
rich  vein  of  humor,  which  often  betrayed  itself  in  his 
conversation,  he  was  serious  and  tender  in  the  pulpit. 
True  humor  often  gives  tone  to  pathos,  when  no  one 
except  a  mental  analyst  would  suspect  its  influence. 
The  discoui\ses  of  Dr.  Mills  were  carefully  written ;  yet 
often  supplemented  by  extemporaneous  remarks,  through 
which,  with  great  earnestness  and  deep  feeling,  he 
roused  or  melted  the  hearts  of  his  hearers. 

As  a  scholar,  his  attainments  were  unusual  for  the 


376  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

period  at  wliich  his  active  life  began.  He  was  led  to 
the  study  of  the  Hebrew  language  while  yet  undeter- 
mined as  to  his  professional .  life.  He  was  already  so 
well  pr3pared  for  the  duties  of  Professor  of  Biblical 
Criticism,  that  when  the  Seminary  was  founded  at 
Auburn,  he  was  invited  to  the  discharge  of  those  duties 
in  that  institution.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  for 
many  years  instructed  his  classes  with  all  a  scholar's 
tastes  and  enthusiasm.'  In  1854,  he  resigned  his  post, 
because  of  physical  disability ;  but  wore  the  honorable 
title  of  Professor  Emeritus  until  his  death,  in  1867.  He 
was  poet  as  well  as  scholar ;  and  published  a  small  vol- 
ume of  translations  from  the  German,  in  1845.  Few 
have  contributed  more,  or  with  less  ostentation,  to  the 
spiritual  life  of  the  Church,  which  he  loved  "with 
fervent,  if  not  with  demonstrative,  affection. 

One  of  the  most  distinguished  teachers  in  Union  The- 
ological Seminary  was  Dr.  Henry  Wihte. *  We  retain 
a  vivid  remembrance  of  him  as  he  apj)eared  in  the  class- 
room. Tall  and  erect,  his  figure  was  rounded  by  no  su- 
perfluous tissue.  His  haii*,  prematm-ely  gray,  was  a 
"  crown  of  glory."  His  face  was  thin,  and  his  eyes, 
remarkable  for  brilliancy,  bm-ned  like  the  lights  of  a 
Pharos.  And  as  a  Pharos,  he  stood  above  the  shoals 
of  theological  speculation.  Whoever  sailed  by  him, 
avoided  wi-eck.  His  was  a  steady  warning  to  keep  the 
open  sea,  or  to  anchor  in  the  roadstead.  Pie  had  little 
sympathy  with  that  class  of  minds  which  love  most  the 
dangerous  places  of  theological  study.  Not  that  he 
would  leave  such  places  unsounded,  unsui'veyed ;   but 

*  Bom  in  Durham,  Greene  County  N.Y.,  June  lOtli,  1800. 


BIOGR.\PmCAL    SKETCHES.  377 

that  lie  distrusted  the  fascinations  wliicli  such  places 
have  for  the  ventui'esome  and  the  curious.  His  system 
was  pre-eminently  clear  and  simple.  His  aim  was  to 
teach  what  he  himself  had  learned  from  the  Bible  as  a 
revelation.  That  which  the  Scriptures  did  not  reveal,  he 
was  not  anxious  to  explain.  His  terminology  was  no 
more  obscm*e  than  were  his  thoughts.  He  never  found 
it  necessary  to  invent  a  word  to  express  his  meaning. 
He  peculiarly  disliked  the  mists  of  German  philosophy, 
by  which  the  students  of  his  day  were  often  befogged. 
To  him  there  was  little  more  than  despair  in  the  cele- 
brated exclamation  of  Hegel,  "  But  one  man  in  the  world 
understands  me,  and  he  misunderstands  me."  Perhaps 
he  did  not  give  the  thinkers  of  the  trascendental  school 
the  credit  which  was  justly  their  due.  He  believed 
that  many  of  their  novel  and  seemingly  vast  ideas  were 
like  the  spectres  of  the  Brocken, — images  of  them- 
selves, projected  on  a  cloud.  He  encouraged  discussion 
in  the  lecture-room,  di'ew  it  out  often  by  ingenious  meth- 
ods. And  w^henever  a  subtle  doubt  or  distinction  was 
advanced,  he  listened  mth  patience.  Every  "  difficulty  " 
was  considered  with  candor.  If  it  was  real,  it  was  dis- 
cussed with  discriminating  ability.  If  it  was  a  trap,  he 
was  sure  to  spring  it  upon  him  who  set  it.  He  pos- 
sessed great  powers  of  sarcasm,  and  was  master  of  the 
reductio  ad  absurdum.  If  the  students  ever  held  their 
breath  while  one  of  their  number  assumed  a  position 
which  was  ingenious,  but  untenable,  they  genei-ally  re- 
covered it  as  the  professsor  made  answer,  and  saluted 
the  unlucky  student,  as  his  argument  suddeidy  disap- 
peared, with  a  hearty  burst  of  laughter. 

With  Dr.  White  theology  was  an  eminently  2>i'acti' 


3^8  PRESBYTERLVN    CIIUECH. 

cal  science.  He  well  knew  what  practical  use  could  be 
made  of  it,  for  he  had  himself  been  a  successful  preacher 
and  pastor.  He  was  graduated  at  Union  College  in  1 82  J:, 
with  high  honor,  having  especially  distinguished  him- 
self in  the  departments  of  mathematics  and  philosophy. 
He  then  pm-sued  his  theological  studies  at  Princeton. 
His  only  pastorate  was  in  the  Allen  Street  Chui^ch,  New 
York,  over  which  he  was  installed  during  the  Vv^iuter  of 
1827-8,  and  where  he  remained  until  he  was  elected 
Professor  of  Theology  in  Union  Seminary  at  the  time  of 
its  founding,  — 1836. 

His  preaching  was  remarkably  lucid  and  strong. 
"There  was  one  class  of  to23ics,"  says,  President  Asa 
D.  Smith,  "  that  relating  to  the  guilty  and  lost  condi- 
tion of  the  sinner  and  his  obligation  to  immediate  re- 
pentance, in  the  handling  of  which  he  had,  in  my  judg- 
ment, few  living  equals.  I  have  heard  strains  of  dis- 
course fi'om  him  which  seemed  to  me,  in  their  awful, 
overwhelming  impressiveness,  more  like  that  wonderful 
sermon  of  President  Edwards  on  '  The  Justice  of  God 
in  the  Damnation  of  Sinners,'  than  aught  I  remember 
to  have  heard  fi'om  the  lips  of  man."  Yet  he  had 
withal  such  kindness  of  natm-e,  such  sympathy  with 
the  imperilled,  such  an  abiding  confidence  in  Christ  as 
the  sinner's  refuge,  that  he  won  while  he  alarmed.  Like 
McCheyne,  he  preached  terrible  truths  "  tenderly."  And 
the  result  was  manifest ;  as  daring  the  eight  years  of 
his  pastorate  he  received  into  his  chui'ch  about  four 
hmidred  persons,  nearly  half  of  them  on  profession  of 
their  faith.  He  was  no  "  legalist,"  in  the  opprobrious 
sense  of  that  term.  His  own  experience  had  taught 
him  the  preciousness  of  the  Saviom-.     "  Oh,  the  unspeak 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  379 

able  preciousness  of  the  atonement  by  the  blood  of 
Christ !  "  cried  he,  when  dying.  "  I  have  preached  it 
for  years,  and  taught  others  to  preach  it,  and  now  I 
know  its  Avorth."  If  Sinai  thundered  fi-om  his  pulpit, 
the  light  of  the  Cross  also  beamed  there,  like  that  of  the 
seven  lamps  which  burned  with  steady  radiance  amid 
the  flashes  of  the  apocaly23tic  vision  of  the  Throne. 
Circling  about  all  the  symbols  of  terror  was  the  sign 
of  mercy  —  the  "  rainbow,  in  sight  like  imto  an  emerald." 
The  love  and  the  reverence  of  all  who  sat  at  his  feet 
attest  the  success  with  which  he  employed  and  in 
structed  others  to  employ,  the  great  truths  of  the  Gospel., 
He  was  still  in  the  vigor  of  manhood  when  he  died, 
but  ready  to  be  miclothed  and  clothed  upon.  Duiing 
the  last  year  of  his  earthly  life,  which  closed  in  1850, 
he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  Sixteenth  Street  Presby 
terian  Chm'ch,  in  New  York,  and  there  j)reached  not  only 
with  the  power  but  also  with  the  success  of  his  earlier 
days,  using  old  weapons,  repeating  old  victories. 

One  of  Dr.  White's  associates  in  the  Seminary  was 
that  truly  great  Biblical  student  and  scholar.  Dr.  Ed- 
WAED  IloBi]^so]sr.*  Of  him,  also,  we  retain  inefface- 
able memories.  Unlike  Dr.  White  in  person,  he  was  of 
massive,  almost  heavy  frame.  Plis  prominent  eyes  would 
have  denoted  to  a  phrenologist  an  extraordinary  gift  of 
language.  Yet  with  all  his  taste  for,  and  facility  in  the 
acquirement  of  foreign  tongues,  he  was  by  no  means 
fluent  in  speech.  This  was  due,  perhaps,  to  his  habits 
of  critical  investigation.  He  was  never  a  preacher,  and 
his  instructions   were  not  given  with  the   freedom  of 

*  Bom  in  Southington,  Coim.,  April  10th,  1794. 


380  PRESBYTERLVN    CIIUECII. 

one  accustomed  to  popular  addi'ess.  The  little  peculaii 
ties  of  manner  which  one  remembers  as  individual  sisrns, 
were  those  which  would  be  brought  from  the  study, — 
the  tapping  of  the  lips  with  the  finger, — the  abstracted 
rolling  of  the  pencil  in  the  palm  of  the  hand,  while 
some  question  of  exegesis  Avas  explained. 

To  eulogize  him  as  a  scholar,  would  be  superfluous. 
His  merits  have  been  acknowledged  on  botli  sides  of 
the  Atlantic.  He  never  sought  distinction,  yet  fame 
made  haste  to  celebrate  his  worth.  In  his  expeiience 
was  illustrated  the  sentiment  of  the  Latin  historian, 
-"  He  who  slights  fame  shall  enjoy  it  in  its  purity." 

He  entered  Hamilton  College  in  1812,  while  that  in- 
stitution was  an  outlying  post  of  ciAalization.  From 
the  first  he  was  the  leader  of  his  class.  Leaving  col- 
lege, he  commenced  the  study  of  civil  law;  but  soon 
abandoned  it  for  the  more  congenial  pursuit  of  letters. 
In  1821,  we  find  him  in  Andover,  Mass.,  publishing  an 
edition  of  the  Iliad  of  Homer,  with  a  Latin  introduc- 
tioii.  While  thus  occupied,  he  tm-ns  his  attention  to 
Hebrew,  and  masters  it  so  rapidly  that  in  1823  he  is  ap- 
pointed instructor  in  that  language  in  the  Theological 
Seminary.  Prof.  Moses  Stuart  was  then  in  the  zenith 
of  his  popularity.  Comparison  -with  him  Avas  ineA^ta- 
ble.  But  the  younger  teacher  suffered  nothing  from 
contrast  with  the  elder.  Less  brilliant  than  Prof.  Stu- 
art, he  was  soon  regarded  as  more  safe.  Less  enthusiastic 
and  "  electric,"  he  was  confided  in  as  more  exact  and 
thorough.  The  two  worked  weU  together.  One  kindled 
the  interest  of  the  student  in  a  study  Avhich  is  not  gen- 
erally attractive  ;  the  other  gave  him  the  precise  analy- 
sis of  the  passage  he  was  seeking  to  elucidate. 


BIOGEAPmCAL   SKETCHES.  381 

But  Hebrew  never  was  tlie  chosen  lano-nao-e  of  Dr. 
Robinson.  He  always  preferred  the  Greek;  and  de- 
voted himself  peculiarly  to  the  unfolding  of  its  treas- 
ures, especially  as  found  in  the  mines  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament. 

After  remaining  in  Andover  three  years,  he  repaired 
to  Europe  for  wider  opportunities  of  study  than  this 
country  afforded.  He  spent  four  years  abroad,  residing 
mainly  at  Halle  and  Berlin,  and  enjoying  an  intimate 
association  with  such  scholars  as  Gesenius,  Tholuck, 
Kodiger,  and  Neander.  In  1830,  he  returned  to  Ando- 
ver, where  he  received  the  appointment  of  "  Professor 
Extraordinary  of  Sacred  Literature,  and  Librarian." 

In  1837,  he  accepted  the  appointment  of  Professor  of 
Biblical  Literature  in  the  Union  Theological  Seminaiy, 
on  the  express  condition  that  before  entering  upon  the 
duties  of  the  professorship,  he  should  be  permitted  to 
spend  three  or  foui*  years  in  exploring  Bible  lands,  espe- 
cially the  Sinaitic  Desert  and  Palestine.  The  results  of 
this  exploration,  j)ublished  in  three  volumes,  gave  him 
immediate  rank  as  a  scholar  and  a  scientific  discoverer. 
The  gold  medal  of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society  of 
London  was  awarded  him.  The  University  of  Halle 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  and 
Yale  College  that  of  Doctor  of  Laws.  After  entering 
upon  his  duties  in  the  Union  Seminary,  he  continued  to 
discharge  them,  except  as  they  were  interinipted  by 
subsequent  travel,  until  his  death,  in  January,  1863. 
He  made  a  second  tour  to  Palestine,  in  1852,  and  after- 
wards published  an  additional  volume  of  his  "  Re- 
searches." He  visited  Germany,  for  relief  from  disease 
in  1861,  and  died  January  27,  1863. 


382  PRESBYTERIAN    ClIUHCIL 

His  literary  labors  were  incessant  and  varied,  yet 
always  those  of  tlie  Biblical  scholar.  He  was  the  f  oun 
der  of  both  the  Biblical  Itepository  and  the  Billiotheca 
Sacra  ;  and  his  contributions  to  both  are  of  2:iermanent 
value.  His  Greek  Harmony  of  the  Gospels  was  a  great 
improvement  upon  that  of  any  one  who  had  attem23ted 
that  work  before  him.  For  his  Greek  and  Eno-lish 
Lexicon  of  the  New  Testament,  there  is  as  yet  no  read- 
ily accessible  substitute. 

As  an  exegete,  he  was  critical,  yet  reverent.  He  never 
sacrificed  the  truth  to  an  accent  or  a  particle.  His  \aews 
of  inspiration  were  well-defined,  and  consistently  applied. 
In  this  respect,  he  was  remarkable,  —  seeming  the  more 
so,  when  we  consider  the  mde  ranges  of  scholarship 
over  which  he  travelled.  It  is  a  prevailing  complaint 
of  those  who  pursue  their  studies  in  foreign  lands,  that 
they  become  unsoundly  "  broad  "  in  their  opinions.  Dr. 
Robinson  was  catholic,  but  never  careless.  He  never 
caught  that  critical  spirit  which  interprets  the  Bible  as 
Neibuhr  and  others  after  him  interpreted  Roman  history. 
He  did  not  suspect  fables  in  Genesis,  because  the  story 
of  Romulus  and  Remus  was  doubted.  He  never  ran 
the  knife  through  the  threads  of  Revelation,  that,  first 
destroying,  he  might  then  explain  it.  He  was  suffi- 
ciently "  scientific  "  to  recognize  the  difference  between 
the  natural  and  the  supernatui'al  elements  of  the  Scrij)- 
tures;  but  not  so  scientific  as  to  reject  the  supernatu- 
ral. He  did  not  find  a  miracle  where  no  miracle  was 
recoi'ded,  but  he  resolved  no  miracle  into  a  myth.  The 
essential  truths  of  the  Bible  were  all  illumined  by  his 
investigations ;  they  were  never  dimmed.  It  would  be 
an  occasion  of   unfailin<r  reirret  that  he  died  without 


BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  383 

leaving  us  a  solitary  commentary,  had  he  not  given  to 
Christian  scholars  such  abundant  materials  for  indepen- 
dent conclusions.  His  Lexicon  is  of  more  value  to  the 
student  than  most,  or  than  many  commentaries.  It  is 
easy  to  see  that  such  a  mind  and  heart  must  have  ex- 
erted a  powerful  formative  influence  upon  the  Church, 
through  those  whom  he  moulded  and  quickened.  It  is 
not  so  easy  to  trace  that  influence  to  its  limits.  Om- 
niscience only  can  follow  the  lines  of  light,  the  pulsa- 
tions of  the  air,  the  transformations  of  moisture,  or  the 
vital  forces  which  go  out  and  on  fi*om  a  great  and  sanc- 
tified human  soul. 

It  is  by  no  means  easy  to  determine  whether  Dr. 
Lyman  Beechee  ''  should  be  classed  among  the  instruc- 
tors or  the  preachers  of  oiu'  Church.  Logically,  his 
place  in  this  record  would  be  among  the  instructors ; 
for  his  direct  connections  mth  the  Presbyterian  Church 
were  formed  in  the  year  1832,  by  his  acceptance  of  the 
office  of  Presideut  and  Professor  of  Theology  in  Lane 
Theological  Seminary.  Yet,  at  nearly  the  same  time, 
he  took  his  place  among  our  pastors,  by  his  installation 
over  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  in  Cincinnati,  in 
1833.  On  the  whole,  considering  his  mental  habits  and 
peculiarities,  we  should  class  him  among  the  preachers, 
and  assign  him  a  rank  second  to  that  of  none.  He  was  a 
man  of  genius,  and  of  an  individuality  most  marked. 
Genius  always  develops  itself  most  perfectly  in  some 
single  line.  Michael  Angelo  is  great  in  art,  Milton 
in  poetry.    Neander  had  genius  as  a  professor,  none  at 

*  Son  of  David  Beech er.     Bom  at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  October  12th,  1775. 
Died  at  Brooklyn,  January  10th,  1863. 


384  PRESBYTERIAN    CIIURCn. 

all  as  an  orator.  One  miglit  compare  l^eander  with 
Dr.  Beecher,  when  rehearsing  odd  stories  of  the  ab- 
stracted ways  of  either.  Either  might  appear  in  the 
morning  with  a  slipper  on  one  foot,  and  a  boot  on  tlie 
other.  Neander  was  never  presentable  except  througli 
his  sister's  care.  Dr.  Beecher  had  often  to  submit  to 
adjustment  by  female  hands,  when  he  rushed  fi-om  his 
study  wth  a  hopeless-looldng  manuscript,  as  the  last 
stroke  of  the  church-bell  died  away.  But,  unlike  Nean- 
der,  Di-.  Beecher  was  a  preacher  in  grain.  He  was  still 
preacher  when  he  attempted  the  duties  of  professor. 
In  eauder  steadily  read  from  his  manuscript,  t^\il'ling  a 
quill  —  the  symbol  of  his  power  —  in  his  fingers.  Dr. 
Beecher  broke  often  impulsively  away  from  his  manu- 
script, and  preached  to  his  students  as  if  the  "  great 
congregation  "  was  before  him.  His  feelings  were  per- 
petually breaking  through  the  methods  of  his  intellect 
and  flaming  out  in  unpremeditated  eloquence.  He  was 
already  a  preacher  by  constitution,  while,  yet  a  lad, 
he  discouraged  his  uncle.  Lot  Benton,  in  all  attempts 
to  teach  him  the  mysteries  of  the  plow.  He  went  to 
college  expecting  to  be  a  preacher.  He  took  notes  of 
Dr.  D^vight's  sermons,  "  condensing  and  making  skele- 
tons," with  all  a  j^reacher's  instincts,  though,  as  yet, 
unconverted.  His  earliest  attempt  at  literary  composi- 
tion was  an  ari^ument  a^-ainst  Tom  Paine's  infidelities. 
He  discovered  the  fallacy  of  Samuel  Clark's  famous  ar- 
gument for  the  being  of  a  God,  even  while  praising 
the  ingenuity  with  which  his  schoolmate,  Roger  Slier- 
man,  defended  the  fallacy.  He  was  always  ready  for 
discussion,  and  always  characteristic  in  his  treatment  of 
the  subjects  he  debated.      He  was  not  ^\athout  method 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  385 

in  his  thinking ;  yet  method  was  not  his  distinguishing 
peculiarity.  Ideas  lay  in  his  mind  in  a  state  of  fusion. 
His  favorite  definition  of  eloquence,  was,  "  logic  afire ; " 
and  he  exemplified  his  definition.  Some  men  first  refine 
their  thoughts  by  mental  heats,  then  coin  them.  He, 
not  mifrequently,  poured  his  out  hot  from  the  crucible. 
He  is  said  to  have  been,  like  other  great  preachers,  oc- 
casionally dull.  If  so,  it  was  because  at  such  times  the 
furnace  did  not  draw.  In  his  more  common  moods,  he 
was  anything  but  dull.  Very  seldom  could  the  sar- 
casm of  Heinrich  Heine  be  applied  to  what  he  spoke 
or  penned, — - 

"  I  was  reading  this  ])ook,  and  fell  asleep.  I  dreamt 
that  I  went  on  with  the  reading,  and  three  times  I  was 
waked  up  by  its  tediousness." 

Such  a  man  as  this  will 
always  be  both  understood 
and  misunderstood.  The  in- 
tensity of  his  convictions  and 
of  the  language  in  which  they 
are  expressed,  will  be  such  that 
he  will  neglect  some  proper 
qualifications  of  his  thought. 
Some  will  say  that  he  is 
"no  theologian,"  while  few 
theoloorians  "  to  the  manner  born  "  v/ill  exert  an  im- 
mediate  influence  so  i:)enetrative  and  powerful.  Dr. 
Beecher  could  be  exact  in  his  statements,  but  we  must 
judge  him  by  the  laws  of  his  individuality.  Had  he 
been  of  cooler  temperament,  and  of  more  cautious 
habit,  he  would  have  been  less  effective.  The  discus- 
sions of  the  period  of  the  division  would  not  have  cir- 

25 


Rev.  Dr.  Beecher. 


386  PRESBYTERIAN   CUTJRCH. 

cled  so  swiftly  about  liim  ;  but  lie  would  liave  been  far 
less  of  a  man. 

To  rehearse  those  discussions,  or  to  make  an  analysis 
of  Dr.  Beecher's  views  at  this  time,  is  not  within  our 
province.  We  are  unwilling  to  disturb  even  the  echoes 
of  the  past.  Indeed,  there  is  now  but  little  dispute  that 
though  he  made  himself  generally  understood  thi'ough 
some  tribulation,  he  was  substantially  in  accord  with 
those  Church  standards  of  which  he  considered  himself 
representative  and  defender. 

His  great  purpose  in  life  was  to  move  men  rather 
than  to  mould  them.  Individual  himself,  he  did  not 
care  to  fashion  men  after  other  patterns  than  were  de- 
signed for  them  by  Him  who  planned  their  lives. 

He  would  move  all  men  so  that  they  should  become 
disciples  of  the  Lord.  Thus  by  choice,  as  well  as  by 
nature  and  grace,  he  became  a  revival  preacher.  He 
went  to  Lane  Theological  Seminary,  avowedly  to  make 
it  a  "  revival  institution."  He  was  attracted  to  the 
West  by  the  ardent  natures  which  there  awaited  him. 
He  thouo-ht  of  the  victories  to  be  achieved  for  Christ 
among  those  who  had  carried  the  entei-prise  of  the  emi- 
grant into  what  he  foresaw  would  be  the  heart  of  the 
nation.  He  longed  to  be  among  the  earliest  in  the  con- 
flict. No  other  call  of  duty  could  have  dra^\Ti  him  f  i-om 
his  post  at  Boston,  where  he  seemed  to  be  accomplish- 
ing more  than  any  other  man  could  have  done. 

It  must  be  conceded  that  the  effect  he  produced  upon 
the  preaching  of  his  time,  was  signal  and  Avide-reach- 
ing.  Methods  of  preachmg  change  mth  the  changing 
generations.  If  to-day  the  pulpit  is  characterized  by 
more  eloquence,  by  more  "  logic  afire  "  than  it  was  fifty 


I 


BIOGEAPinCAL    SKETCHES.  387 

years  ago,  it  is  partly  because  of  Dr.  Beeclier's  influ- 
ence. So,  also,  as  to  prevailing  forms  of  tlieologiciil 
thought  and  expression ;  Dr.  Beecher's  marks  are  upon 
these,  though  he  has  left  but  little  which  will  be  long 
associated  with  his  name  in  the  ranges  of  theological 
literatui'e.  His  earthly  immortality  is  not  in  print  and 
binding.  His  works  will  not  go  into  the  permanent 
stock  of  booksellers,  but  his  influences  are  abiding.  In 
Litchfield  as  an  advocate  of  temperance  and  an  earnest 
preacher  of  the  Gospel;  in  Boston  as  a  corrector  of 
pernicious  doctrinal  eri'ors ;  in  Cincinnati  as  intent  upon 
the  salvation  of  souls,  —  he  was  like  Elisha,  casting  salt 
into  corrupted  waters.  The  salt  was  lost  to  sight,  but 
the  fountains  were  "  healed."  He  left  to  others  the  not 
less  useful  work  of  laying  the  enduring  curb-stones  about 
the  fountains'  rims. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  a  perfect  portraiture  of  Dr. 
Beecher.  We  have  not  attempted  that  of  which  his 
own  children  despaired.  They  sketched  him,  indeed, 
fi'om  various  sides  and  in  various  moods;  but  condemned 
each  sketch  as  faint  and  feeble.  His  connection  with 
Lane  Seminary  continued  through  a  period  of  twenty 
years.  He  was  faithful  to  it.  He  gave  it  all  he  had  — 
himself.  He  gained  for  it  many  friends  and  no  incon- 
siderable endowments.  He  saved  it  in  a  time  of  ex- 
treme depression.  He  left  it,  having  accomplished  for 
and  by  it,  if  not  all  he  hoped,  yet  more  than  a  less  san- 
guine spirit  than  his  could  have  ever  expected. 

Among  the  most  appreciative  friends  of  Dr.  Beecher, 
and  closely  associated  Avith  him  in  the  discharge  of  pas- 
toral duty  while  in  Cincinnati,  was  Dr.  Tiiojias  Brain-- 


388  PRESBYTERIAN    CIIURCn. 

ERD.  Like  Dr.  Beecher,  he  sprang  from  Puritan  stock 
He  was  a  member  of  a  family  already  rendered  illus- 
trious by  the  labors  of  that  devoted  missionaiy,  David 
Brainerd,  and  of  his  not  less  devoted  brother  John. 
He  inherited  many  of  the  qualities  which  braced  and 
gave  tone  to  the  characters  of  these  missionaries.  He 
was  born  in  Lewis  county,  New  York,  in  1804.  "  Chang- 
ing the  sky  "  did  not,  at  this  period,  change  "  the  mind  " 
of  New  England  families.  Dr.  Brainerd  was  carefully 
nm-tured  in  Pm-itan  habits.  His  academic  training  was 
thorough.  His  early  purpose  was  to  enter  the  legal 
profession ;  and  with  this  in  view,  he  devoted  some  time 
to  legal  studies.  But  after  being  partially  fitted  for  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar,  he  abandoned  these  studies  and  en- 
gaged in  the  duties  of  teacher  at  Philadelphia.  There 
he  became  a  member  of  Dr.  James  Patterson's  Chui'ch, 
and  formed  an  intimacy  with  him  which  was  teiToiuated 
only  by  the  death  of  that  eccentric  but  useful  man.  He 
remained  in  Philadelphia  at  this  time  but  about  a  yeai- ; 
then  repaii-ed  to  Andover  to  study  for  the  ministry. 
Soon  after  his  graduation,  in  1831,  he  went  to  Cincin- 
nati, and  became  pastor  of  the  Foui'th  Presbyterian 
Church  in  that  city.  This  position  he  resigned  at  the 
expiration  of  two  years  for  the  editor's  chair,  and  con- 
ducted the  Cincinnati  Journal  and  the  Youth^s  Maga- 
zine nearly  foui*  years.  During  this  period  it  was  that 
he  became  associated  with  Dr.  Beecher  in  the  labors  of 
the  pulpit  in  the  Second  Church.  In  1837  he  left  Cin- 
cinnati to  take  charge  of  the  Pine  Street  Presl)yterian 
Church  in  Philadelphia,  and  remained  in  this  pastorate 
until  his  death,  in  1866.  His  relations  to  the  New 
School  Church  continued  therefore  through  nearly  the 


BIOGEAPHICAI.    SKETCHES.  389 

whole  period  of  its  independent  existence.  And  no 
one  was  more  tliorouglily  identified  with  it,  or  more  sin- 
cerely  devoted  to  its  interests. 

He  was   a   man  of   remarkable   personal   influence. 
Without  the  intense  nature  of  Dr.  Beecher,  he  had  not 
a  little  of  that  magnetic  force  which  in  Dr.  Beecher 
was  so  great.     Without    enjoying  the  culture  of    col- 
leges, he  was  better  disciplined  than  are  many  college 
graduates.      He  possessed  by  nature,  or   acquii-ed  by 
taste,  what  some  students  never  obtain.     Sidney  Smith 
speaks  of  a  fiiend  into  whose  brain  you  could  get  a 
joke  only  by  a  surgical  operation.     Something  like  this 
may  be  said  respecting  scholarly  habits  of  thought  and 
speech  in  the  case  of  those  who  have  no  natural  apti- 
tude for  them.     Dr.  Brainerd  had  the  gift  of  mastery 
over  his  mother-tongue,  and  used  it  as  not  abusing  it 
He  had  an  uncommon  fluency  of  speech,  and  his  com 
mand  of  language  was  well  nigh  perfect.     The  choicest 
expressions  came  instantly  to  his  lips.  Sometimes  quaint, 
he  was  never,  like  Dr.  Patterson,  grotesque.     His  sen- 
tences did  not  coruscate  like  Dr.  Beecher's ;  but  they 
flowed  like  a  pleasant,  and  sometimes  sparkling,  stream. 
"  From  the  lips  of  no  one,"  says  Albert  Barnes,  "could 
fall  more  pertinent  and  fit  words,  more  complete  sen- 
tences, more  beautiful  figm*es,  more  striking  illustrations. 
In  description,  in  statement,  in  argument,  in  warning, 
m  appeal,  in  invective,  his  language  presented  the  best 
forms  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  tongue."     He  was  peculiarly 
happy  in  extemporary  addi*ess.     His  congregation  often 
expected  most,  when  on  rising  to  addi-ess  them  he  de- 
clared himself  least  prepared. 

He  never  lost  those  tastes  of  the  editor  which  wer^ 


390  PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCH. 

exercised,  not  formed,  in  Cincinnati.  We  say  "not 
formed,"  for  tliey  were  inborn.  "  No  man,"  says  one 
of  distinguished  authority,  "  can  be  a  successful  editor, 
unless  printer's  ink  beats  in  his  veins  instead  of  blood." 
Dr.  Brainerd  would  have  been  successful  had  he  de- 
voted his  life  to  the  periodical  press.  He  would  some- 
times m-ite  for  the  journals  of  Philadelphia,  and  always 
in  a  fresh  and  vivid  style.  A  few  articles  fi'om  his  pen 
appeared  in  the  ATiierican  Presbyterian  and  Theologi- 
cal Review,  whose  origin  was  due  to  a  council  of  which 
he  was  a  member.  He  has  left  us  no  volume  except 
the  Life  of  John  Brainerd,  a  book  whose  style  is  of 
rare  felicity. 

As  a  Pastor,  Dr.  Brainerd  ^vas  almost  unsurj^assed. 
He  was  on  terms  of  affectionate  intimacy  with  the  fam. 
ilies  of  his  flock,  —  such  intimacy  that,  if  his  visits  were 
ever  unexpected,  they  were  never  unwelcome.  He  was 
almost  as  likely  to  appear  unheralded  at  tlie  brealdast- 
table  of  a  parishioner,  as  at  his  tea-table,  thus  varying 
the  pleasure  of  an  early  morning  ride  by  that  of  social 
intercourse  and  influence.  He  made  even  casual  ac- 
quaintances feel  that  they  were  his  fiiends.  He  was 
beloved  by  the  young,  into  whose  sympathies  he  entered 
with  all  the  freshness  of  youth.  No  decay  of  physi- 
cal vigor  ever  affected  his  heart  or  checked  its  perennial 
streams.  To  the  veiy  last  his  church  was  a  favorite  re- 
sort for  young  men.  He  never  failed  of  their  co-opera- 
tion in  all  his  purposes  for  the  benefit  of  the  Church 
and  of  society. 

In  ecclesiastical  matters  he  was  always  among  tlie 
foremost.  He  took  a  special  interest  in  the  work  of 
Church  Extension  in  Phdadelphia.     The  founding  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  391 

three  of  tlie  most  important  cliurclies  in  the  city  was 
due  in  no  small  degree  to  his  influence.  The  interests 
of  his  denomination  were  always  near  his  heart ;  but 
he  was  never  offensively  a  denominationalist.  The 
whole  city  respected,  revered,  was  proud  of  him.  The 
nation  had  his  sympathy  in  its  darkest  days.  He  was 
among  the  most  active  of  those  who  contributed  to  the 
comfort  of  our  soldiers,  as  during  the  late  civil  contest 
they  passed  through  the  city  or  lingered  in  its  hospitals. 
And  when  the  news  of  the  sui-render  of  General  Lee 
thrilled  the  community  with  joy,  his  voice  it  was  which 
led  the  thanksgivings  of  the  multitude,  as  by  sponta- 
neous impulse  they  gathered  under  the  shadow  of  In- 
dependence Hall.  So  ardent  indeed  were  his  patriotic 
feelings,  so  incessant  were  his  patriotic  labors  dm*ing 
the  period  of  strife,  that  it  is  supposed  his  life  was  ma- 
terially shortened  by  their  exhaustions.  He  officiated 
in  his  pulpit  in  Pine  Street  for  the  last  time,  July  8, 
1866.  His  text  on  this  occasion  was,  "  Abide  with  us, 
for  it  is  toward  evening,  and  the  day  is  far  spent."  A 
little  more  than  a  month  after  this  the  evening  fell,  the 
day  was  over,  and  he  passed  "  thi'ough  night  to  light." 

Another  name,  well  known  in  the  annals  of  Presbyte- 
rianism,  and  associated  more  or  less  closely  with  that 
stronghold  of  the  Church,  Philadelphia,  is  that  of  Duf- 
FiELD.  During  the  period  of  the  Revolution,  George 
Duffield,  D.D.,  was  pastor  of  the  Third  or  Pine  Street 
Presbyterian  Church  in  this  city.  He  was  an  ardent 
patriot  as  well  as  an  efficient  minister,  and  officiated  as 
chaplain  of  the  Continental  Congress.  His  son  George 
was  for  many  years  Comptroller-General  of  the  State 


392  TRESBYTERIAN    CllUIlCir. 

of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
Cliurch.  He  resided  in  Strasburg,  Lancaster  county, 
where  his  son,  perpetuating  the  same  name,  was  born, 
July  4th,  1794.  This  George  Dueeield  is  the  subject 
of  our  present  sketch. 

In  the  line  of  the  Duffields,  fidelity  to  the  truth  for 
conscience  sake  was  conspicuous  for  many  generations. 
That  member  of  the  family  who  first  emigrated  to 
America,  left  Ireland  to  enjoy  Chiistian  liberty,  as  his 
ancestors  had  left  England  for  the  same  reason.  "VVe 
may  be  sure  that  nothing  was  lost  fi'om  the  good  quali- 
ties of  the  Duffield  blood  when  the  father  of  our  pres- 
ent subject  married  Faithful  Slaymaker,  of  Huguenot 
extraction.  It  is  thought,  indeed,  that  her  son  inherited 
her  qualities,  rather  than  those  of  his  father. 

In  his  youth,  he  was  a  wayward  boy,  but  began  to 
regard  life  as  having  some  earnest  purpose,  while  in  the 
Univei*sity  of  Pennsylvania,  at  which  he  was  graduated 
May  30th,  1811.  His  first  real  interest  in  religion  was 
occasioned  by  overhearing  the  conversation  of  two  godly 
women;  and  his  first  conviction  of  sin,  by  a  sei'mon 
preached  by  Dr.  Ai-chibald  Alexander,  on  prayer.  The 
way  of  peace  he  found  long  and  difiicult ;  but  was  led 
through  it,  so  that  soon  after  his  graduation  in  Phila- 
delphia, he  repaired  to  New  York,  and  placed  himself 
for  theological  study,  under  the  care  of  Br.  John  M. 
Mason,  who,  mth  great  interest,  directed  his  education 
for  the  ministiy,  through  the  period  of  four  full  years. 
He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
April  20th,  1815.  He  was  tlien  not  quite  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  but  he  had  been  subjected  to  a  somewhat 
rigorous  discipline  by  the  Presbytery,  under  whose  care 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCilES.  393 

he  Lad  been  for  three  years,  and  who,  at  eveiy  semi- 
annual meeting  during  that  time,  examined  him  on  reg- 
ular or  extra  "parts  of  trial"  The  great  questions 
pressed  upon  his  notice  were  such  as  these :  "  What  is 
saving  faith  in  Christ?"  "What  is  the  grand  essential 
fact  to  be  believed  in  the  iii'st  actings  of  saving  faith  ? " 
These  questions  were  specially  prominent  in  that  day, 
and  he  was  compelled  by  his  own  experiences,  as  well  as 
by  the  searching  examinations  of  Presbytery,  to  find  a 
clear  answer  to  them.  They  occasioned  him  much  spir- 
itual doubt  and  perplexity.  If  there  was  any  thing  in- 
dividual in  his  theological  views,  it  was  ]3ecause  of  this 
discipline.  He  had  no  difiiculty  in  accepting  the  fact, 
as  historically  proved,  that  Christ  died,  the  just  for  the 
unjust,  to  bring  us  to  God.  The  hard  point  to  solve, 
was,  "What  authority  have  I  to  believe  that  Christ 
died  for  me  as  a  person  ? "  It  was  solved  at  last  in 
the  con^dction  that  the  offers  of  salvation  through 
Christ  are  freely  made  to  all^  and  that  the  saving  act 
of  faith  is  first  of  all  an  appropriating  act,  by  which 
the  sinner  accepts  the  gift  as  extended  to,  and  meant 
for  liiTii. 

"  This  appropriating  act  of  faith,  I  saw,  was  like  the 
hand  stretched  forth  to  take  the  free  gift,  and  make  it 
mine  in  possession  as  it  was  mine  in  the  offer.  This 
became  to  me  the  way  of  peace,  and  joy,  and  strength, 
and  holiness.  So  to  j^i'each  the  riches  of  His  grace,  and 
so  to  press  upon  sinners  the  acceptance  of  Him  as  their 
personal  Saviour,  as  having  died  as  particularly  for  each 
one  as  He  did  in  general  for  all,  I  felt  before  my  licen- 
sm-e  to  be  the  way  to  preach  the  very  essence  and  mar- 
row of  the  Gospel.     The  Presbytery  at   Philadelphia 


394  PEESBYTERiAN  cnuiicn. 

thought  that  in  so  doing,  I  taught  that  the  sinner  in  liis 
first  actings  of  faith,  must  believe  that  he  is  one  of  the 
elect,  and  did  not  give  me  credit  for  the  distinction 
made  between  faith's  saying,  '  Christ  is  mine  in  God's 
gracious  ofEer,'  and  the  witness  of  the  Spirit,  through 
conscious  dependence,  enabling  me  to  say,  '  He  is  mine 
m  actual  possession.'  Chi'ist  formed  in  the  heai*t  the 
hope  of  glory."  * 

A  similar  difficulty  was  found  in  harmonizing  the  im- 
mediate obligation  of  the  sinner  to  believe  in  Christ, 
and  the  indispensable  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  in- 
duce and  enable  him  so  to  do.  This  difficulty  was  thus 
solved  :  "  Moral  corruption,  I  saw,  was  not  regarded  in 
the  Scrij)tures,  —  i.  <?.,  viewed  in  the  light  of  theii*  defi- 
nition of  sin,  as  a  physical  entity  or  quality  at  all ;  but 
the  attribute  of  voluntary  moral  agents,  endo^ved  with 
adequate  capacities  for  moral  obligation,  and  justly  held 
responsible,  mider  law,  for  obedience  to  God."  So  the 
agency  of  the  S2:)irit  in  regeneration,  was  never  "  a  phy- 
sical j)otency  or  an  ii-resistible  afflatus,"  but  a  "  power 
ful  motive  moral  force  brought  to  bear  upon  the  minds, 
consciences,  and  hearts  of  sinners,  through  the  truth  as 
revealed  by  Jesus  Christ." 

In  these  solutions,  he  believed  himself  to  be  sustained 
by  Scripture,  and  by  some  of  the  most  distinguished 
authoi'ities  of  the  Church.  We  have  referred  to  them 
at  length,  because  they  constitute  the  distinctive  fea- 
tures of  his  preaching.  Their  definite  declai'ation  was 
accepted  by  Presbytery,  after  some  discussion  and  delay, 
both  at  the  time  of   liis  licensure  and  at  that  of  his 

*  Sermon  delivered  at  the  installation  of  Rev.  W.  A.  McCorkle  as  his  asso- 
ciate in  Detroit. 


BIOGEAPmOAi    SKETCHES.  395 

ordination  and  installation  as  pastor  at  Carlisle,  Pa.,  in 
1815. 

He  remained  at  Carlisle  nineteen  years.  He  was  then 
called  to  PMladelpliia  to  succeed  the  Rev.  Dr.  Skinner, 
as  pastor  of  the  Fifth  Presbyterian  Chm*ch.  Two  years 
later  he  removed  to  New  York,  to  assume  the  pastorate 
of  the  Broadway  Tabernacle  Chui'ch.  But,  after  a  year 
spent  in  this  service,  he  accepted  the  call  of  the  Fii-st 
Presbyterian,  then  styled  "  Protestant "  Chui^ch,  in  De- 
troit, over  which  he  was  installed,  October,  1838.  Here 
he  remained  until  his  death,  June  26th,  1868. 

These  thirty  years  constituted  the  most  important 
and  fruitful  period  of  his  ministry.  His  influence  ex- 
tended over  the  whole  State  of  Michigan,  and  measur- 
al^ly  through  the  Church.  He  was  thoroughly  "  pro- 
nounced "  as  a  Presbyterian,  and  indefatigable  in  the 
promotion  of  the  interests  of  the  Gospel  through  his 
denomination.  He  was  zealous  in  the  work  of  domes- 
tic missions ;  he  was  abundant  in  labors,  making  use  of 
the  press,  as  well  as  of  the  pulpit ;  interesting  himself 
in  all  matters  of  local  importance ;  foremost  in  the  cause 
of  education,  of  temperance,  of  good  morals.  Scarcely  a 
man  in  Detroit  was  so  influential.  He  had  his  favorite 
ideas,  as  have  all  men  of  decided  individuality ;  and  he 
so  imj^ressed  those  ideas  upon  the  popular  mind  and 
heart,  that  one  ^vill  often  hear  them  referred  to  as  stan- 
dard truths.  Yet  his  cultm-e  was  unusually  broad  and 
rich.  He  was  thoroughly  sldlled  in  the  use  of  the 
Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  French,  and  German  languages. 
He  was  a  careful  student  of  the  sciences,  and  so  mas- 
tered them  that  he  was  a  fit  companion  for  the  most 
scientific.     His  memory  was  unfailing,  and  his  fancy 


396  PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCII. 

brilliant.  He  was  therefore  always  welcome  in  general 
society.  He  was  a  scholar  among  students,  a  savant 
among  philosophers,  a  political  economist  among  mer- 
chants. We  well  remember  being  in  Detroit,  a  few 
years  since,  when  a  new  building  of  the  Board  of 
Ti'ade  was  formally  opened.  Dr.  Duffield  was  among 
the  most  prominent  in  the  exercises  of  the  occasion. 

As  a  Preacher,  he  w^as  vigorous,  logical,  persuasiv^e. 
His  feelings  always  lay  so  near  the  sui^Pace,  that  they 
sufBused  his  speech  at  a  touch.  As  a  Philanthi'opist,  he 
was  untiring.  As  a  Patriot,  he  was  worthy  of  his  ances- 
try. Dm'ing  the  civil  war,  he  w^as  instrumental  in  the 
establishment  of  a  hospital,  and  was  among  the  most 
active  in  the  service  of  the  Christian  Commission.  He 
was  never  old  in  spirit,  and  his  fire  was  never  j)hosphor- 
escent.  We  do  but  feeble  justice  to  his  memory  in  these 
unillumined  sentences. 

We  have  space  only  for  a  few  lines  respecting  his 
early  and  consistent  advocacy  of  Presbyterian  Reunion. 
Pie  sjioke  upon  that  subject  in  the  Assembly  held  at 
Detroit,  in  1850,  and  was  a  recognized  leader  in  the  As- 
sembly held  at  Washington,  in  1852,  when  that  move- 
ment was  made  which  resulted  in  the  organization  of  a 
distinct  Committee  on  Home  Missions.  His  interest  in 
the  subject  took  him  to  St.  Louis,  and  also  to  Harris- 
burg.  He  intended  to  be  present  at  the  memorable 
Union  Convention,  held  in  Philadelphia,  but  was  provi- 
dentially detained.  He  watched  with  interest,  and 
aided  every  judicious  step  towards  the  consummation 
which  has  at  last  been  realized.  Whatever  may  be  or 
may  have  been  thought  of  his  peculiarities,  in  explain- 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  397 

ing  or  impressing  our  doctrinal  symbols,  no  more  ardent 
friend  of  the  Chm*cli  can  be  specified ;  scarcely  any  one 
has  rendered  it  more  signal  service. 

He  died  as  he  had  wished  to  die,  "  in  the  harness." 
Delivering  an  address  before  the  International  Conven- 
tion of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  at  De- 
troit, June  24th,  1868,  he  suddenly  paused,  and  with  an 
exclamation  of  distress,  fell  into  the  arms  of  those  near 
est  him.  He  was  tenderly  borne  to  his  home,  and 
there,  two  days  afterward,  expired.  His  remains  were 
borne  to  the  cemetery  between  two  long  lines,  formed 
as  if  out  of  the  whole  population  of  the  city.  The 
mourners  literally  "  went  about  the  streets." 

It  would  be  impossible  to  give  even  a  partial  com 
pleteness  to  our  view  of  the  personal  influences  which 
have  given  tone  to  the  life  of  the  New  School  Church, 
without  definite  reference  to  the  efforts  of  those  who 
have  been  closely  identified  with  its  aggressive  work  on 
the  fi-ontiers.  We  have  already  given  a  sketch  of  Dr. 
Blackburn,  the  pioneer ;  but  his  influence  upon  the  mis- 
sionary spirit  of  the  Church  was  indii-ect.  The  name 
of  Dr.  Artemas  Bullaed,  of  St.  Louis,  is  intimately 
associated  with  the  systematic  development  of  Presby- 
terian Home  Missions. 

Born  at  Northbridge,  Mass.,  June  3d,  1802,  he  was 
graduated  at  Amherst  College,  in  1826.  Fitted  by 
natural  qualities  for  a  life  of  enterprise,  he  was  early 
directed  by  Providence  into  lines  of  usefulness  in  which 
only  a  man  of  enterprise  could  be  successful.  In  him, 
energy  and  resolution  were  associated  with  a  sanguine 
temperament.     He  is  said  to  have  closely  resembled  in 


398  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

personal  appearance,  the  "  Old  Hickory  "  of  Ameiican 
Presidents.  Pie  certainly  resembled  him  in  character. 
His  perceptions  were  keen,  his  will  was  tenacious,  his 
mental  movements  were  quick,  and  his  sagacity  was  al- 
most unerring.  He  possessed  in  a  remarkable  degree, 
the  constructive  faculty,  and  marshalled  principles  or 
men  with  an  equal  facility.  His  frankness  sometimes 
gave  offence,  his  firmness  made  his  opposition  formid- 
able. He  had,  like  all  men  of  positive  character,  his 
troops  of  friends,  and  his  experience  of  enmity.  Yet 
none  of  his  opponents  could  ever  deny  him  the  praise  of 
sincerity  and  of  love  for  the  truth  and  the  IMaster. 

"Wliile  at  the  seminary  in  Andover  f  1828),  he  pro- 
posed to  devote  himself  to  Foreign  Missions ;  but,  hav- 
ing formed  intimate  relations  mth  Dr.  Cornelius,  and 
other  eminent  men  in  Boston,  he  was  prevailed  upon,  in 
1830,  to  visit  what  was  then  the  West,  in  the  service  of 
the  American  Sunday  School  Union.  He  travelled  on 
horseback,  as  far  as  the  State  of  Illinois ;  and  in  this 
service  displayed  such  qualities,  that  when  Dr.  Corne- 
lius was  suddenly  laid  aside,  he  was  urgently  solicited 
to  assume  the  arduous  duties  of  Secretary  of  the  A. B.C. 
F.M.,  in  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  He  accepted  the 
appointment,  and  for  some  years  travelled  over  his  wide 
field  fi-om  Detroit  to  New  Orleans.  This  experience 
gave  him  not  only  an  acciu-ate  kno"svledge  of  the  West, 
but  also  an  ardent  sympathy  ^vith  its  wants.  And  when 
in  1838,  he  was  invited  to  accept  the  pastorate  of  the 
only  Presbyterian  Chui'ch  in  St.  Louis,  he  felt  it  his 
duty  to  comply.  He  saw  in  the  position  to  ^vhich  he 
was  invited,  the  centre  of  an  influence  whose  bounds 
were  indefinitely  wide.    The  waste  places  were  on  evei-y 


EIOGEAPinCAL    SKETCHES.  399 

side.  He  knew  wliat  were  tlie  demands  of  tlie  Home 
Missionary  work,  and  what  the  sacrifices  of  the  Home 
Missionary.  He  could  aid  the  churches  of  the  wilder- 
ness, and  encourage  those  who  had  gone  or  might  be  in- 
duced to  go  to  the  scattered  flocks,  as  to  sheep  having 
no  shepherd.  He  could  assist  in  planting  new  churches 
and  do  much  to  develop  the  educational  interests  of  a 
new  and  broad  region.  He  threw  himself  into  his  new 
duties  with  characteristic  zeal.  He  was  the  faithful 
pastor  of  his  own  flock,  the  earnest  friend  of  eveiy 
missionary  within  his  reach.  He  was  a  true  bishop, 
making  fi'equent  and  long  journeys  to  visit  the 
churches  which  naturally  turned  to  him  for  counsel  and 
help.  He  was  accurately  informed  of  the  condition  of 
all  the  Presbyterian  congregations  in  the  State.  No 
one  knew  better  than  he  what  was  a  minister's  life  in  a 
log-cabin,  or  what  the  influence  of  a  pulpit  in  some 
rude  school-house,  or  ruder  sanctuary.  Yet  he  was  one 
of  the  first  to  perceive  the  importance  of  providing 
comfortable  and  attractive  houses  of  worship,  as  cen- 
tres of  a  permanent  power.  As  early  as  1845,  he  un- 
dei-took  under  sanction  of  his  synod,  to  raise  a  fund  of 
$10,000,  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  church  erection 
in  Missouri.  He  visited  the  East,  to  collect  a  portion 
of  this  fund,  and  to  obtain  recruits  for  Home  Mission- 
ary service.  He  returned,  bringing  with  him  generous 
donations,  and  ten  clergymen.  He  was,  indeed,  remark- 
ably successful  in  his  lifelong  efforts  to  raise  the  means 
for  carrying  on  benevolent  enterprises.  "  Come  away," 
said  a  student  to  a  friend  who  called  his  attention  to  a 
"  speaking  likeness "  of  Dr.  Bullard,  at  the  door  of  a 


400  PEESBYTERIAI^-   CHUKCH. 

photographic  artist :  "  Come  away !  he'll  have  five  dol- 
lars out  of  5'ou  for  a  church  before  you  know  it." 

He  was  greatly  interested  in  the  establishment  of 
Webster  College,  near  St.  Louis.  The  subscription 
book  of  that  institution  was  found  upon  his  person,  wet 
and  soiled  by  the  rain  which  beat  upon  his  lifeless 
body,  as,  mth  twenty-nine  victims  of  the  disaster  of 
Gasconade  bridge,  he  lay  amid  the  ruins  of  that  wi-eck 
which  had  cost  him  his  life. 

He  was  always  a  distinguished  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  when  he  attended  its  meetings  as  com- 
missioner. Ai-dently  devoted  to  every  interest  of  the 
chui-ch  in  the  line  of  progress ;  possessed  of  a  knowl- 
edge and  experience  to  which  all  were  compelled  to  de- 
fer ;  fluent,  dii^ect,  and  clear  in  debate, — he  never  failed 
to  wield  a  poweidful  influence.  When  he  died,  every 
missionary  lost  a  friend,  every  measure  of  importance  to 
the  Church  lost  a  champion. 

Among  those  whom  he  was  instnimental  in  introduc- 
ing to  the  mission aiy  work  of  the  Chm-ch,  we  ^vill  men- 
tion one  only  whose  character  and  career  are  illustra- 
tive of  some  of  the  phases  of  the  work  itself. 

When,  in  1849,  Dr.  Bullard  ^dsited  the  Seminary  at 
Aubui'n  to  stimulate  the  interest  of  its  students  in  the 
great  West,  he  became  acquainted  with  Frederick 
Starr,  Jr.,  a  graduate  of  that  year,  who  had  already 
distinguished  himself  by  self-denying  lal^or  as  teacher 
and  missionary  in  the  Sunday-school  of  the  prison. 
This  young  man  quickly  caught  the  spirit  of  Dr.  Bul- 
lard. He  was  not  unlike  him  in  character.  Born  in 
Rochester,  January  23, 1826,  his  development  was  quick 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  401 

and  strong.  He  made  a  profession  of  religion  in  his 
tenth  year,  and  was  fi'om  the  first  an  active  and  useful 
Christian.  In  1850  he  repaired  to  St.  Louis,  and  un- 
der Dr.  Bullard's  direction  began  the  labors  of  city 
missionary.  But  he  was  not  long  content  with  these. 
His  spirit  craved  a  wider,  freer  horizon.  Hence  in 
March,  1851,  he  went  up  the  Missouri  four  hundi'edand 
fifty  miles  to  the  verge  of  civilisation.  Here  he  found 
the  to^vn  of  Weston,  then  numbering  about  3,000  in- 
habitants. Four  miles  fi*om  Weston  was  Fort  Leaven- 
worth, where  at  that  time  all  the  annuities  of  the  In- 
dians in  that  region  were  paid.  Here,  too,  was  the 
starting-point  from  which  emigrants  to  California 
launched  out  upon  the  plains.  When  Mr.  Starr  arrived, 
the  whole  territory  about  Weston  and  the  Fort  was  occu- 
pied by  a  host  of  these  emigrants,  waiting  for  the  grass 
to  spring  up  along  the  route  before  them.  He  consti- 
tuted himself  at  once  a  missionary  among  these  motley 
hosts.  He  conciliated  their  favor  both  by  his  frank 
demeanor,  and  by  his  interest  in  their  spii-it  of  adven- 
ture. Gifted  with  strong  and  well  disciplined  mechani- 
cal tastes,  he  could  assist  in  mending  a  wagon  or  in 
making  a  plaything  for  a  child.  Having  an  easy  ad- 
dress and  a  remarkable  facility  of  speech,  he  could  with 
equal  readiness  rivet  theu*  attention  by  an  anecdote 
at  the  camp-fire,  or  by  a  sermon  delivered  fi-om  some  con- 
venient bench  or  barrel. 

While  laboring  in  this  manner  mth  great  success,  he 
was  urged  to  accept  the  pastorate  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Weston,  whose  pulpit  was  vacant.  He  took 
the  call  into  consideration  and  carried  it  to  his  father, 
Hon.  Frederick  Starr,  a  man  whose  name  is  held  in  dis- 

26 


402  PEESBYTERIAir   CHUECH. 

tingulshed  regard  by  the  Cliiircli,  for  advice.  It  "^vas 
natural  that  the  father,  desiring  to  have  his  son  near 
him  in  his  declining  years,  should  hesitate ;  but  the  fa- 
ther had  too  much  of  the  spirit  of  the  son  to  resist  the 
appeal  made  to  him  as  the  son  sprang  to  his  feet  after 
laying  open  the  case  and  exclaimed,  "  Father,  have  you 
not  always  taught  me  fi-om  a  child,  where  there  was  any 
work  to  be  done  which  no  other  man  would  do,  to  take 
hold  and  do  it  ?  I  have  travelled  many  thousand  miles, 
and  nowhere  in  the  land  have  I  found  a  place  so  ^^acked, 
so  sunk  in  sin,  and  where  any  other  minister  would  be 
so  little  likely  to  incline  or  dare  to  go  as  Weston  ;  and 
that  is  my  reason  for  mshing  to  go  there." 

He  went.  He  carried  w^th  him  money  to  relieve  the 
church  at  Weston  of  an  embarrassing  debt.  He  aided 
with  his  own  hands  in  repairing  the  chui'ch  edifice, 
which  was  "  open,  dilapidated,  repulsive."  He  was  or- 
dained and  installed  October  23,  1850.  He  organized 
an  extensive  system  of  labor  among  the  rich  and  the 
poor,  among  masters  and  slaves,  among  ci\41ians  and 
soldiers.  He  reasoned  of  righteousness,  temperance, 
and  judgment  to  come.  Positive,  fearless,  energetic, 
powei-ful,  he  won  the  love  of  many,  the  admiration  of 
all — even  of  those  whose  prejudices  he  aroused.  In 
the  summer  of  1852,  the  cholera  raged  in  Weston  with 
great  violence.  He  was  unwearied  in  his  active  exer- 
tions for  the  relief  of  the  sick  and  the  comfoi't  of  the 
afflicted.  The  Methodist  and  Baptist  clergymen  of  the 
town  l^oth  fell  victims  of  the  pestilence.  He  alone  was 
left  to  I'ender  such  services  to  the  whole  population  as 
a  minister  can  render ;  but  his  habitual  fearlessness  and 
fidelity  were  conspicuous  until  the  plague  was  stayed. 


BIOGEAPmCAL   SKETCHES.  403 

A  still  severer  trial  tested  his  nerve  and  Ms  devotion, 
when  the  excitements  attending  the  repeal  of  the  Mis- 
somi  Compromise  prevailed.  He  was  in  the  very  theatre 
of  the  Kansas  raids — a  Northern  man  of  positive  char- 
acter and  convictions  where  no  Northern  man  was  safe. 
He  was  marked  with  suspicion.  His  life  was  threat- 
ened. He  was  summoned  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the 
"  Platte  County  Defensive  Association,"  when  he  knew 
that  the  summons  meant  death.  He  attended  it,  and 
by  his  courage  and  addi-ess  averted  the  peril  which  hung 
over  him,  though  fi'ankly  declaring  his  conviction  that 
slavery  was  a  moral  evil,  and  appealing  for  authority  to 
such  southern  men  as  Jefferson  and  Benton.  But  the 
Border  War  went  on,  and  soon  became  so  bitter  that, 
yielding  to  the  entreaties  of  his  friends,  he  returned  to 
New  York,  despairing  of  stemming  a  tide  which  defied 
all  barriers. 

This  Was  in  the  spring  of  1855.  He  was  immediately 
enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  Auburn  Theological  Sem- 
inary, and  of  the  Western  Education  Society,  and  con- 
tinued therein  until  1862,  performing  what  many  of  his 
friends  regard  as  the  great  work  of  his  life. 

After  a  short  and  successful  ministry  at  Penn  Yan, 
he  returned  to  the  West  in  1865,  to  take  charge  of  the 
North  Presbyterian  Church  in  St.  Louis,  where,  after 
two  years  of  labor  remarkable  in  results,  and  giving 
signal  promise  for  the  future,  he  died,  January  5,  1868. 

Reference  is  due  to  another  to  whom  the  Church 
owes  much  of  its  solid  growth  and  of  its  prep- 
aration for  Reunion,  —  Dr.  Thoentois'  A.  Mills. 
He  was   born  in  Paris,  Ky.,  September,  1810.       He 


404  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

was  graduated  at  the  Miami  University,  in  1830,  and  li- 
censed by  the  Cincinnati  Presbytery,  in  1833.  In  1836, 
tie  became  pastor  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  Chui-ch  in 
Cincinnati,  and  retained  that  relation  for  twelve  years. 
In  1848,  he  purchased  the  Watcliman  of  the  Valley^ 
a  religious  journal  published  in  Cincinnati,  and  imme- 
diately began  to  exert  a  wide  influence  in  tlie  forma- 
tion of  those  opinions  which  resulted  in  the  full  organ- 
ization of  a  system  of  committees  to  carry  forward  the 
distinctive  work  of  the  chui'ch.  This  paper,  under  the 
present  title  of  the  Central  Cliristian  Herald^  was 
one  of  the  earliest  and  steadiest  advocates  of  Peunion. 

The  principal  labor  of  Dr.  Mills  in  the  service  of  the 
Church,  however,  commenced  in  1853,  when  he  was 
elected  Secretary  and  General  Agent  of  the  Chui'ch 
Erection  Committee.  On  the  completion  of  the  fund 
of  $100,000,  which  was  raised  by  his  energetic  advo- 
cacy, he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Chm-ch  in  Indianapolis.  But  from  this  post  he  was  re- 
moved in  1856,  at  the  urgent  demand  of  the  Chui'ch  at 
large,  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  Greneral  Secretary  of 
the  Assembly's  Committee  on  Education,  then  just  or- 
ganized. These  duties  he  performed  with  great  efficiency 
until  his  decease,  June,  1867. 

A  consummate  organizer,  a  powerful  advocate,  a  man 
of  Avide  views  and  of  tenacious  pm-poses,  undaunted  by 
obstacles,  unshrinking  from  work,  a  thoroughly  genu- 
ine man,  —  his  influences  were  by  no  means  conlined  to 
the  sphere  in  which  he  officially  moved.  Ai-dently  lov- 
ing his  denomination,  brought  into  constant  contact  with 
its  leading  minds,  he  touched  all  the  springs  of  eccle- 
siastical life,  and  forwarded  aU  the  measui*es  of  eccle- 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  405 

siastical  progress.  His  record  is  so  interwoven  witli 
the  history  of  the  Church  during  the  past  fifteen  years, 
that  one  can  trace  it  in  all  the  chapters  of  that  his- 
tory. 

Of  all  who  witnessed  the  reunion  of  the  Church  in 
1871,  none  was  more  widely  known  or  more  highly 
honored  than  Albert  Baenes.  He  was  a  son  of  the 
past  century,  having  been  born  in  Kome,  N.  Y.,  De- 
cember 1,  1798.  In  him,  however,  the  spirit  of  the 
nineteenth  century  was  roundly  developed.  He  sprang 
from  the  middle  rank  of  society.  For  some  years  in  his 
early  life  he  was  engaged  in  his  father's  occupation, 
that  of  tanner.  He  was  persuaded,  while  yet  a  young 
man,  to  turn  his  attention  to  the  study  of  civil  law. 
But  before  his  graduation  at  Hamilton  College,  in 
1820,  he  relinquished  his  purpose  to  become  a  lawyer. 
Though  a  student  at  Hamilton  but  a  single  year,  that 
year  was  pivotal  in  his  history.  Up  to  the  age  of  nine- 
teen he  was  a  sceptic  without  faith  in  the  Bible  as  a 
revelation  from  Grod.  A  simple  statement  of  religious 
experience,  warm  from  the  lips  of  one  of  his  college 
classmates,  dissolved  his  doubts  and  led  to  his  conver- 
sion. A  consecration  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  minis- 
try immediately  followed.  He  resorted  to  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Princeton,  N.  J. ;  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  April  23, 
1823  ;  and,  after  remaining  one  year  at  Princeton  as  resi- 
dent licentiate,  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the 
Pre^^byterian  Church  in  Morristown,  K  J.,  on  the  8th  of 
February,  in  the  year  1825. 

While  at  Morristown,  he  became  impressed  \'sdth  the 


406  PEESBYTERIAN    CHUECH. 

im]X)rtance  of  Biblical  helps  for  tlie  Sunday-school 
teacher  and  for  the  common  student  of  the  Word  of 
God.  The  notes  which  he  prepared  for  his  own  Bible 
classes  proved  so  useful,  that,  as  they  grew  upon  his 
hands,  he  resolved  to  print  them.  Thus  began  that  se- 
ries of  commentaries  upon  the  entire  New  Testament, 
and  upon  several  of  the  books  of  the  Old  Testament, 
which  has  not  only  carried  his  name  around  the  world, 
but  has  proved  of  incalculable  benefit  in  the  conversion, 
instruction,  and  sanctification  of  souls.  "  He  builded 
better  than  he  knew."  His  pastorate  at  Morristo^^Tl 
was  marked  by  signal  success  in  all  the  dej^artments  of 
ministerial  labor.  He  neo^lected  nothinor  which  would 
pi'omote  an  outward  morality  or  an  inward  life.  A  re- 
vival of  remarkable  extent  and  power  occurred  in  the 
winter  of  1828-9.  In  the  midst  of  this  revival,  he 
preached  a  sermon  entitled  "  The  Way  of  Salvation." 
This  sermon,  which  was  greatly  and  immediately 
blessed,  was  soon  after  piinted,  and  at  once  obtained  a 
wide  circulation.  It  came  to  the  notice  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadelphia,  then  without  a 
pastor,  and  was  the  occasion  of  a  call  to  the  pulpit  of 
that  church.  It  attracted  the  notice,  also,  of  certain 
minds  then  influential  in  the  denomination,  and  Avas 
severely  criticised  for  its  supposed  unsoundness.  His 
transfer  from  Morristown  to  Philadelphia,  in  1830,  was 
resisted  by  some  who  thought  the  sermon  defective. 
In  the  year  1835,  his  commentary  upon  the  Epistle  to 
the  Romans  was  issued.  This  volume  was  thought  to 
be  even  more  objectionable  than  the  sermon.  It  led  to 
his  formal  arraignment  before  his  Presbytery.  The 
case  was  tried  and  carried  from  one  ecclesiastical  court 


» 


A    ^/'cU        /^r(yn(f. 


BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  407 

to  another,  until  the  strife  was  ended  in  his  acquittal  by 
the  General  Assembly,  in  the  year  1836. 

This  trial  doubtless  had  something  to  do  with  the 
division  of  1837  ;  but,  at  this  day,  it  seems  strange  that 
it  could  have  been  prosecuted  with  severity.  Mr. 
Barnes  certainly  differed  in  terminology  from  those 
who  disagreed  with  him.  Very  likely  he  differed  from 
them  in  some  shades  of  sentiment ;  but  he  is  now  re- 
garded as  substantially  sound.  A  generation  has 
passed  since  the  division.  In  the  light  of  past  contro- 
versy new  study  has  been  given  to  our  standards  and 
to  the  Bible  as  interpreted  thereby.  Old  forms  of 
statements — favorites  on  either  side — have  in  some  in- 
stances been  abandoned  as  imperfect.  The  dispo- 
sition to  ascertain  wherein  those  who  uphold  the  same 
standards  agree,  has  taken  the  place  of  a  disposition  to 
suspect  the  hand  which  clasps  the  banner-staff,  either  of 
weakness  or  of  disloyalty.  It  is  the  period  of  union. 
Dismantled  parapets  are  given  up  to  the  weeds  on  the 
theological  field,  as  well  as  on  the  fields  where  hostile 
cannon  once  flamed. 

Mr.  Barnes  was  peculiarly  sensitive  to  the  spirit  of 
his  times.  He  was  bold  and  earnest  as  a  reformer. 
He  instinctively  adopted  those  habits  of  mind  and 
speech  which  were  calculated  to  make  him  most  useful 
He  was  a  representative  man,  and  as  such  greatly  in- 
fluential in  shaping  that  sentiment  which  ultimately  re- 
sulted in  the  reunion  of  the  Church.  He  did  not  seek 
that  reunion ;  but  he  was  indirectly  tributary  to  it  in 
no  small  degree.  Here  again  he  "  builded  better  than 
he  knew." 

He  remained  pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Phila- 


408  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

delphia  thirty -seven  years.  In  1867,  he  resigned  his 
chai'ge,  was  immediately  elected  ixistor  emeritus^  and 
so  continued  until  his  death,  December  24th,  1870. 

In  character  he  was  as  remarkal)le  as  in  work.  In- 
deed, the  work  was  the  natural  outcome  of  the  charac- 
ter. No  man  was  ever  more  perfectly  balanced.  IS^one 
was  ever  less  liable  to  the  disturbing  influences  of  pas- 
sion, "  Do  you  never  act  upon  impulse  ?  "  once  said 
one  of  his  brethren,  half  vexed  that  he  moved  in  some 
important  matter  with  so  much  deliberation.  "  No, 
never,  either  good  or  bad !  "  was  the  reply.  He  was  a 
man  of  method.  One  would  say  that  he  had  drilled 
himself  to  an  almost  mechanical  regularity.  His  time 
was  broken  into  measured  periods.  He  rose  in  the 
morning  at  four  o'clock,  repaired  to  his  study,  and  de- 
voted himself  to  work  upon  his  commentaries. 
When  the  clock  struck  nine,  he  abandoned  that  work 
instantaneously,  though  in  the  midst  of  a  verse,  or 
leaving  a  sentence  half  written.  Thus  he  went  from 
task  to  task  through  the  day,  and  retii^ed  to  rest  so 
punctually  at  his  appointed  hour,  that  one  of  his  fam- 
ily has  said  he  could  safely  set  his  watch  by  his  foot- 
step. If  he  made  an  appointment,  he  was  ready  for  it 
at  the  place  agreed  upon  and  at  the  minute  designated. 
His  methodical  habit  was  as  noticeable  in  his  mental 
as  in  his  physical  movements.  His  writings  are  di- 
vided by  numeral  and  alphabetical  signs  to  a  degree 
unusual  with  the  writers  of  his  day.  His  thoughts 
were  always  clear  cut  and  free  from  tangle. 

Associated  with  this  method  was  an  extreme  sensi- 
tiveness both  of  conscience  and  of  heart.  He  discerned 
the  right  in  questions  of  casuistry  almost  by  intuition, 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  409 

and  lie  clung  to  the  right  with  unyielding  tenacity. 
All  his  sensibilities  were  quick  and  keen.  This  is  the 
more  remarkable  because  well-balanced,  methodical, 
conscientious  men  are  often  dull  and  cold.  It  is  gen- 
erally the  ardent  nature  which  is  most  susceptible  to 
impression.  Some,  indeed,  who  met  Mr.  Barnes  only 
casually  or  but  seldom,  thought  him  reserved,  almost 
self-contained.  He  was  so  modest  that  he  could  not 
make  demonstrative  advances,  so  conscientious  that 
he  would  not  assume  the  appearance  of  what  he  did 
not  feeL  Yet  he  was  genial,  affectionate,  and  self- 
sacrificing — always  unwilling  to  wound  the  feelings 
or  even  arouse  the  anxieties  of  others.  We  once  called 
upon  him  one  Monday,  after  observing  an  alarming 
faintness  in  the  pulpit  on  the  preceding  day.  He  lay 
upon  the  lounge  in  his  library.  We  referred  to  his 
faintness.  With  instant  alarm  his  wife  asked,  "  What 
was  it  ?  "  He  looked  up  with  a  smile,  and  said :  "  I  do 
not  tell  her  all  that  happens." 

Whilst  having  this  sensitiveness  of  heart,  this  fear  of 
wounding  his  friends,  he  was  magnanimous  toward 
those  who  were  thought  to  have  injured  him.  If  ever 
there  was  anything  to  be  forgiven  in  the  trials  of  his  ear- 
lier ministry,  it  was  forgiven  by  Mr.  Barnes  whilst  the 
fault  was  fresh  in  memory.  So  he  virtually  declared 
in  some  of  his  later  wri tinges.  He  wished  to  think  of 
his  conflicts  as  those  of  oj^inions,  rather  than  of  men. 
In  the  later  and  serener  periods  of  his  life,  he  remem- 
bered them  rather  as  the  mariner  on  shore  remembers 
the  tossings  of  a  storm — the  winds  and  waves  with 
which  he  has  wrestled,  and  not  the  JEolus  who  unloosed 
the  former,  or  the  Neptune  who  disturbed  the  latter. 


410  PEESBYTEEIAN    CHURCH. 

As  a  friend,  Mr.  Barnes  was  universally  beloved. 
As  a  counsellor,  lie  was  listened  to  almost  with  rever- 
ence. To  the  last,  he  was  an  active  auxiliary  in  eveiy 
good  work  lie  was  able  to  promote.  When  over  sev- 
enty years  of  age,  he  would  walk  through  heat  or 
storm  many  miles,  on  the  Sabbath,  to  assist  his  breth- 
ren; seeking  no  pecuniary  remuneration,  receiving 
none.  Everywhere  welcomed  to  house  or  to  pulpit, 
he  was  everywhere  missed,  when  in  a  moment  he 
passed,  as  by  a  kind  of  translation,  out  of  the  world. 
He  died  in  the  house  of  a  friend  to  whom  he  had  gone, 
apparently  in  perfect  health,  to  exj^ress  sympathy  and 
administer  consolation.  Hopeful  and  cheerful  to  the 
end,  desiring  to  round  his  century  of  life,  that  he 
might  see  the  glories  of  God's  advancing  Providence 
for  the  benefit  of  mankind,  he  was  not  unprepared  to 
depart.  He  has  left  behind  him  works  which  will  sur- 
vive the  century ;  but  his  memory  is  worth  almost  as 
much  as  his  works.  Not  only  in  this  land,  but  out  of 
many  a  kindred  tongue  and  nation,  shall  rise  those  ^^sdio 
will  call  him  blessed. 

There  are  two  other  names  which  must  not  be 
omitted  from  these  pages :  Thomas  H.  Skij^^ner,  D.D., 
and  Nathan  S.  S.  Beman,  D.D.  Both  died  after  the 
Reunion;  both  were  conspicuous  in  the  New  School 
branch  during  the  whole  period  of  its  history. 

Dr.  Skinner  was  born  in  Perquimons  Co.,  N.  C, 
Marcli  7,  1791.  He  was  graduated  at  Nassau  Hall, 
Princeton,  in  1809,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law 
in  his  native  State.  This  study  he  pursued  with  en- 
tliusiasm  for  about  eighteen  months.  In  1811,  when 
on  the  eve  of  admission  to  the  bar,  he  listened  to  a 


BIOGEAPmCAL    SKETCHES.  411 

sermon  by  a  missionary,  on  the  text,  "  What  shall  it 
jjrofit  a  man,"  etc.  Overwhelmed  with  emotion,  he 
sought  his  room  and  the  mercy-seat.  Next  morning, 
before  he  had  left  his  bed,  a  servant  brought  him  the 
intelligence  that  a  dearly  loved  brother  had  perished 
by  shipwreck.  This  so  deepened  his  religious  feeling, 
that  he  could  think  of  nothing  but  the  salvation  of  his 
soul,  until  he  found  it  by  faith  in  Jesus.  This  led  to 
the  abandonment  of  the  law  for  the  study  of  theol- 
ogy. In  pursuance  of  his  altered  purpose,  he  repaired 
again  to  Princeton,  where  he  remained  one  year.  The 
year  1812  was  mainly  spent  with  Rev.  John  Mc- 
Dowell, at  Elizabethtown,  N.  J.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  December  of  that  year.  Returning  to  the 
South,  he  passed  a  Sabbath  in  Philadelphia,  and 
preached  in  the  "Tabernacle"  of  Ranstead  Court. 
This  led  to  a  call  from  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  to  become  co-pastor  with  Rev.  Di*.  Janeway. 
The  call  was  accepted,  and  he  was  ordained  June  10th, 
1813.  Here  he  remained  three  years  and  four  months, 
resigning  his  position  at  the  end  of  that  period,  prin- 
cipally because  of  some  theological  disagreement  with 
his  colleague.  In  1816,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the 
Fifth  Presbyterian  Church,  in  Locust  Street.  Here 
he  struggled  manfully  against  many  discoui^agements, 
arising  chiefly  from  the  situation  of  the  church  edifice, 
until  1823,  when  his  congregation  removed  to  a  new 
sanctuary  erected  on  Arch  Street,  near  Tenth.  Then 
commenced  what  was,  perhaps,  the  most  prosperous 
period  of  his  ministry — a  i:)eriod  marked  by  powerful 
revivals,  and  by  a  general  interest,  which  has  rendered 
his  name  historic  in  Philadelphia.     In  connection  with 


412  PEESBYTEEIAIf    CHUECH. 

this  churcli  lie  remained  until  1832,  excepting  a  few 
months  of  an  experimental  pastorate  in  Boston,  in  the 
year  1828.  In  1832,  he  accepted  the  chair  of  Sacred 
Rhetoric  in  Andover  Theological  Seminary.  This  he 
occupied  mth  signal  ability  for  about  three  years, 
when  he  resigned  it  to  become  pastor,  once  more,  in 
New  York,  at  the  call  of  the  Mercer  Street  Church. 
After  thirteen  years  of  vigorous  service  here,  he  again 
became  professor  of  Sacred  Rhetoric,  this  time  in 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York.  The  duties 
of  this  professorship  he  discharged  until  the  day  of  his 
death,  February  1,  1871. 

Ardent  in  his  temperament,  he  was  distinguished  in 
the  pulpit,  especially  in  his  earlier  days,  by  "  blood- 
earnestness."  "  If  his  preaching  even  in  those  days 
was  unmarked  by  any  special  power  of  illustration  or 
play  of  fancy,  it  glowed  with  a  spiritual  fire  and  en- 
ergy of  soul,  which  fused  into  one  his  most  elaborate 
expositions  of  Christian  doctrine,  with  all  his  high- 
wrought  arguments  and  appeals ;  bringing  them  home 
to  the  conscience  and  heart  of  his  hearers  as  a  verit- 
able message  from  God.  For  intellectual  vigor  and 
discrimination,  combined  with  impassioned  spiritual 
convictions,  and  the  best  results  of  Scriptural  and  theo- 
logical study  and  reflection,  I  sup{)ose  very  few 
preachers  of  his  generation  could  comjoare  with  Dr. 
Skinner."  * 

"  In  his  character,  nature  and  grace  were  united  in  the 
finest  proportions.  He  was  simplicity  itself:  it  was 
his  nature.     He  seemed  as  unconscious  of  his  own  vii*t- 

*  This  and  follownng  extracts  are  from  the  memorial  prcimrcd  by  Prof. 
Geo.  L.  Prentiss,  of  Union  Theological  Seminary. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  413 

ues  as  if  it  had  never  crossed  his  mind  that  he  coidd 
possess  them.  A  more  transparent,  unsophisticated, 
guileless,  single-eyed,  naive  human  being  I  never  saw. 
The  foundations  of  his  character  were  laid  deep  in 
truth  and  righteousness. 

"  As  a  disciple  of  Jesus,  Dr.  Skinner  attained  heiglits 
seldom  trodden  in  our  day.  Grace  had  penetrated 
every  part,  and  to  the  lowest  de23ths  of  his  being. 
The  Christian  life  was  to  him  an  infinite  reality.  He 
himself  seemed  not  to  have  the  faintest  conception  of 
its  unearthly  loveliness.  His  face,  that  showed  so 
bright  to  others,  was  hidden  from  his  own  eye.  He 
was,  in  a  word,  a  rare  example  of  spiritual  manhood  ; 
sound  to  the  core,  clear  as  a  crystal,  and  reflecting  in 
every  lineament  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the 
glory  of  God,  shining  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ." 

As  professor  in  the  Theological  Seminary,  he  was 
systematic,  earnest,  individual ;  preparing  his  lectures 
with  the  greatest  care,  and  revising  them  continually. 
Interesting  himself  in  his  pupils  as  men,  and  in  every 
way  promoting  the  culture  of  their  minds  and  hearts. 

In  ecclesiastical  assemblies  he  was  always  influen 
tial,  and  was  chosen  Moderator  of  the  General  Assem 
bly  of  the  division  with  which  he  was  then  connected, 
in  1854.  He  is  not,  however,  remembered,  as  some  are. 
for  interest  in  the  debates  of  the  courts  of  the  Church 
No  one  rejoiced  more  heartily  than  did  he  in  the  Re 
union.  "  When  the  movement  toward  reunion  com- 
menced, he  watched  it  v/ith  deep  interest,  gave  it  his 
approval,  his  counsels,  and  his  prayers,  advocated  it 
on  the  floor  of  the  General  Assembly  at  Harrisburg  in 
a  most  impressive  speech,  and  hailed  its  consummation 


414  PEESBYTERIAIS"   CHURCH. 

witli  intense  joy  and  thankfulness,  as  an  event  full  of 
promise  to  the  whole  American  Church," 

Dr.  Bemaist  was  a  man  of  different  temperament. 
He  loved  debate,  and  was  foremost  in  all  the  discus- 
sions which  interested  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  his 
day.  He  gained  the  soubriquet  of  the  "  War  Horse," 
through  the  ardor,  the  rush,  and  the  power  ^^nth.  which 
he  charged  upon  any  position  he  desired  to  carry. 
The  outlines  of  his  life  are  these :  Born  at  New  Leb- 
anon, New  York,  November  26,  1785.  Graduated  at 
Williams  College,  in  1807.  Licensed  to  preach  by  a 
Congregational  Association  in  Maine,  June  14,  1809. 
Ordained  pastor  of  the  Third  Congregational  Church 
in  Portland,  March  14,  1810.  Dismissed  on  account  of 
a  failure  of  health,  which  drove  him  to  the  South  for 
milder  climate,  1812.  President  of  Franklin  College, 
Georgia,  from  1818  to  1822.  Installed  pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Troy,  New  York,  June 
18,  1823.  This  pastorate  he  retained  precisely  forty 
years,  being  then  dismissed  at  his  own  request.  He 
died  at  Carbondale,  Illinois,  August  8, 1871,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-six  years.  As  a  pulpit  orator  he  was  remark- 
able, not  for  grace  and  beauty,  so  much  as  for  force  and 
clearness. 

"  The  atmosphere  in  which  his  intellect  worked  was 
that  of  common-sense.  His  mind  was  of  an  intensely 
practical  character.  Though  metaphysics  was  a  favor- 
ite branch  of  study,  he  never  suffered  it  to  lead  him 
into  vague  or  aimless  speculations.  His  profoundest 
thought  was  never  on  and  unto  itself.  His  mind  was 
at  once  acute  and  comprehensive.     He  saw  a  truth  on 


BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  415 

many  sides,  and  saw  each  side  clearly  in  all  its  rela- 
tions to  all  tlie  others.  * 

"  His  presence  was  commanding ;  his  form  was  tall 
and  symmetrical ;  his  head  and  features  massive,  and 
his  face,  through  stern  when  at  rest,  mobile  and  sus- 
ceptible of  an  illumination  which  at  once  softened  and 
beautified  it.  .  .  .  In  the  most  moving  discourse  he 
was  deliberate.  His  words  came  slowly,  as  stores 
chosen  out  of  the  scrip,  with  a  perfect  knowledge  of 
the  weight  of  each.  ...  To  cultivated  minds,  his 
preaching  was  always  attractive.  He  fed  them  with 
strong  meat.  Few  pulpits  in  this  land  have  educated 
as  many  thinkers  on  the  great  truths  and  problems  of 
religion,  as  did  this,  during  the  forty  years  of  his 
ministry.  His  church  was  a  favorite  resort  for  men  of 
the  legal  profession,  to  whom  his  preaching  appealed 
through  qualities  which,  as  they  could  readily  discern, 
were  as  well  adapted  to  command  respect  at  the  bar, 
as  in  the  pulpit." 

He  took  great  interest  in  politics,  and  especially  on 
Thanksgiving  Days  was  fond  of  dwelling  on  themes  of 
national  interest,  which  he  always  did  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  command  a  crowded  audience.  He  was  an 
ardent  promoter  of  revivals,  preaching  the  terror  of 
the  Lord  perhaps  more  than  would  most  men  at  the 
present  day,  but  dwelling  often  and  with  great  tender- 
ness upon  the  redemption  provided,  and  the  salvation 
offered,  through  Christ.  His  theology  did  not  escape 
the  criticism  of  some  of  his  brethren,  but  the  mode  in 
which  he  defended  it  commanded  their  respect. 

*  This  and  following  extracts  from  a  memorial  prepared  by  Dr.  Martin 
R.  Vincent,  for  some  years  Dr.  Beman's  colleague. 


416  PKESBYTEEIAlf    CHUECH. 

He  was  chosen  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly, 
in  1831,  which  shows  the  respect  accorded  to  him  at 
that  early  day  in  the  Church  at  large.  He  was  not  mth- 
out  interest  in  the  division  of  1837.  Indeed,  he  was 
one  of  the  active  participants  in  its  scenes.  And  ever 
after  he  was  among  the  foremost  and  the  most  influ- 
ential of  the  leaders  of  his  Church.  As  clear  in  debate 
as  he  was  in  the  pulpit,  he  carried  conviction  where 
weaker  men  would  fail,  and  inspired  respect  where  he 
did  not  carry  conviction.  When  the  probabilities  of 
reunion  were  established,  he  gave  his  hearty  approval 
to  the  measure,  and  when  the  Church  became  one  again 
he  publicly  expressed  his  rejoicing.  We  have  no  room 
to  sketch  his  personal  peculiarities,  though  these  would 
afford  material  for  many  a  pleasant  paragraph.  Our 
sketch  is  but  imperfect.  Let  its  deficiencies  be  covered, 
at  least,  in  suggestions  by  that  sentence  which  is 
carved  on  the  tablet,  erected  to  his  memory,  in  the 
church  where  he  so  long  preached  the  Gospel:     "A 

WORKMAN    THAT    NEEDED    NOT    TO   BE    ASHAMED,  EIGHTLY 
DIVIDING  THE  WOED  OF  TEUTH." 

Others  there  are,  still  living  on  earth,  who  are  not 
less  honored  than  some  whose  names  we  have  here 
put  on  record.  There  are  also  many  among  the  laymen 
of  what  was  known  as  the  New  School  Church,  whose 
memory  will  not  soon  fade.  But  Ave  must  leave  all 
these  to  receive  a  better  justice  than  we  could  render 
them,  in  ampler  pages,  and  at  the  pen  of  some  abler 
chronicler,  than  is  he  wlio  here  gives  way. 

Our  space  in  this  book  is  already  more  than  full,  and 
our  regret  that  the  sketches  we  have  attempted  are  so 


BIOGKAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  417 

meagre,  is  scarcely  less  than  our  regret  that  we  have  no 
room  for  extended  reference  to  some  of  the  honored 
laymen  who  have  contributed  in  no  slight  degree  to  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  Church  which  has  now  so 
gladly  dropped  its  New  School  title.  Such  men  as 
Frederick  Starr  Esq.,  and  Judge  William  Jessup, 
have  accomplished  what  no  clergyman  could  effect. 
The  names  of  these  two,  at  least,  shall  stand  in  this 
chapter  to  remind  the  reader  of  virtues  and  services 
which  a  volume  only  could  fitly  commemorate. 


37 


ciiurcti  OP  Tnr  covi  \  \nt  m:w  tork. 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

TILE    REUNION. 


The  greatest  events  are  generally  foreshadowed  by 
many  signs  and  tokens.  Spring  and  summer  liave 
many  harbingers.  Changes  of  opinion  in  Chui-ch  and 
State  are  brought  about  by  insensible  degrees.  The 
large  blocks  of  ice  detached  from  polar  masses,  are 
gradually  dissolved  in  the  warmer  cui-rents  by  which 
they  are  borne  to  the  south. 

To  attentive  observers,  it  was  very  evident  for  several 
years  before  formal  negotiations  were  inaugurated,  that 
the  Keunion  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  was  merely  a  question  of  time  and  mode.  The 
grounds  of  this  expectation  ^vere  obvious. 


THE   REUNION-.  419 

Many  of  those  wlio  were  leaders  on  both  sides  at  the 
time  of  the  disruption  had  either  passed  from  this  life, 
or  had  entered  into  other  ecclesiastical  relations.  Per- 
sonal prejudices,  those  most  powerful  of  all  agencies 
in  producing  the  separation,  were  thus  to  a  large  degree 
eliminated  from  the  question.  A  new  generation  had 
risen  in  the  ministry  and  membership  of  the  Church, 
having  but  little  information,  and  less  interest  as  to  tlie 
separation  itself.  Social  and  ecclesiastical  intercourse, 
except  when  vain  attempts  were  made  by  a  few  to  keep 
alive  old  distinctions,  had  done  much  to  obliterate  for- 
mer lines.  Ministers  on  both  sides  were  accustomed  to 
exchange  pulpit  services.  Members  of  churches  passed 
from  one  side  to  the  other,  dismissed  and  received  on 
the  ordinary  certificate.  This  joractical  union  had  been 
largely  promoted  by  co-operation  in  good  causes  in 
cities  and  towns.  When  it  pleased  God  to  pom-  out 
his  S23irit  and  excite  an  unwonted  prayerfulness  over 
the  country,  the  hearts  of  Christian  people  were  drawn 
together  in  visible  unity.  For  its  general  extent  and 
influence,  it  was  like  the  breath  of  Spring.  There 
seemed  to  be  floating  in  the  very  air  a  sentiment  of 
Christian  confidence  and  love.  Indiflcerent  to  things  of 
minor  importance,  the  hearts  of  men  were  made  to  con- 
verge on  those  things  supreme  and  ultimate  relating  to 
the  kingdom  of  Christ.  In  such  an  atmosphere  and 
cm'rent  of  events,  all  projects  for  union  among  Chris- 
tians seemed  to  meet  with  a  ready  response. 

Then  came  the  memorable  struggle  for  national  integ- 
rity and  life.  Before  the  mighty  enthusiasm  and  inflex- 
ible purpose  of  the  nation  to  save  itself  from  dismem- 
berment and  to  preserve  its  Constitution,  all  subordin- 


420  PEESBYTERIAN"    CnURCH. 

ate  distinctions  in  Churcli  and  State  instantly  disap 
peared.  In  large  cities,  in  to^vns,  villages  and  scattered 
settlements,  there  was  one  and  the  same  high-wrought 
patriotism,  drawing  men  together  in  the  closest  and 
firmest  unity.  Both  Assemblies,  though  with  different 
degrees  of  unanimity,  took  the  same  position  in  relation 
to  the  duty  of  the  Chui'ch  in  the  fiery  trial  to  which 
our  national  life  was  subjected.  As  the  conflict  pro- 
ceeded, it  became  apparent  that  the  continued  existence 
of  slavery  was  involved  in  its  issue.  As  this  was  the 
cause  of  the  war,  so  had  it  much  to  do  with  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  It  was  not  generally 
recognized  as  such  in  public  debate.  But  large  ships 
are  turned  about  by  that  plank  which  is  out  of  sight 
and  under  water.  The  New  School  Assembly  at  the 
time  of  the  disruption  had  but  few  churches  and  min- 
isters who  endorsed  slavery  by  theory  and  practice. 
All  these  withdrew  and  founded  a  separated  organiza- 
tion of  their  own  in  the  South  before  the  war,  and  be- 
fore nesfotiations  between  Old  School  and  New  School 
were  opened  for  Reunion.  The  General  Assembly  Old 
School  had  a  large  slave-holding  constituency  for  which 
it  ahvays  manifested,  in  debate  and  legislation,  the  ut- 
most tenderness  and  caution.  The  time  came  when  it 
was  evident  that  slavery  was  to  go  down  forever  before 
the  well-nigh  unanimous  purpose  to  maintain  the  na- 
tional existence.  This  cause  removed,  there  went  with  it 
what  had  long  tended  in  Churcli  judicatories  to  produce 
irritation,  repulsion,  and  strife.  Much  has  not  been 
said  or  Avritten  in  the  discussions  of  the  last  few  years 
upon  this  su]3Ject,  but  all  who  are  personally  acquainted 
with   the  affairs  of  the  Presbyterian  Chui'ch  in  this 


THE    KEimiON.  42] 

country,  for  tlie  last  tliirty-five  years,  will,  in  all  candor, 
be  prompt  to  admit  that  the  existence  of  slavery  had 
more  to  do  with  the  division  of  the  Church  than  has 
generally  been  supposed ;  and  that  its  entii-e  extinction 
has  been  among  the  many  causes  which  have  made  the 
Reunion  of  the  two  Northern  Assemblies  more  easy  and 
more  certain. 

In  view  of  all  these  circumstances,  it  was  inevitable 
that  the  subject  of  Reunion  should  become  a  matter  of 
discussion.  Several  religious  papers  representing  both 
branches  made  unequivocal  expression  of  opinion  in  its 
favor. 

In  May,  1862,  the  Old  School  Assembly,  then  in  ses- 
sion at  Columbus,  Ohio,  adopted  a  resolution  proposing 
a  "  stated  annual  and  friendly  interchange  of  commis- 
sioners between  the  two  General  Assemblies."  This,  it 
will  be  perceived,  was  not  a  movement  towards  organic 
union.  It  has  been  understood  as  intended  by  some  by 
a  flank  movement  to  defeat  Reunion,  by  establishing 
friendly  relations  between  two  independent  bodies,  al- 
ways to  be  retained  in  this  position.  The  above  reso- 
lution was  communicated  to  the  New  School  Assembly 
at  its  next  meeting,  May,  1863,  in  Philadelphia.  Its 
action  on  the  subject  is  contained  in  the  following  reso- 
lution : 

*'  Hesolved,  Tliat  tliis  Assembly,  with  heartfelt  pleasure  and  Chris 
tian  salutations,  accepts  the  proposition  thus  made,  hoping  and  pray- 
ing that  it  may  result  in  securing  a  better  understanding  of  the  rela- 
tions which,  in  the  judgment  of  this  Assembly,  are  proper  to  be  main- 
tained between  the  two  Assemblies." 

The  Old  School  Assembly  being  in  session  at  this 
time  in  Peoria,  Illinois,  was  at  once  informed  by  tele- 


422  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

graph  of  this  action,  and  immediately  delegates  were 
chosen  by  both  bodies,  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of 
the  resolution.  So  far  fi'om  operating,  as  some  of  its 
advocates  supposed  that  it  would,  as  a  measure  looking 
to  continued  independency  of  the  two  branches,  with 
honorable  and  fi'iendly  recognition  of  each  other  as  be- 
tween distinct  denominations,  it  tended  immediately  to 
strengthen  the  wish  for  a  closer  union. 

The  very  next  year  (1864),  when  the  Old  School 
General  Assembly  was  in  session  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  a 
meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  members  of  that  body, 
and  others  casually  in  attendance,  was  held  for  confer- 
ence upon  the  expediency  and  feasibility  of  organic  Ke- 
union.  This,  so  far  as  is  known  to  the  writer,  was  the 
first  action  in  favor  of  Keunion  on  the  part  of  a  pulilic 
and  representative  body.  It  was  not  the  action  of  the 
General  Assembly  itself,  but  of  those,  in  large  part,  who 
were  members  of  it.  The  paper  prejDared  and  pub- 
lished by  this  meeting,  was  signed  by  seventy  ministers 
and  fifty-three  elders.  From  this  document  we  make 
the  following  extract: 

"It  is  believed  that  the  great  majority  in  each  branch  siacerely  re- 
ceive and  adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith,  as  containing  the  system  of 
doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  approve  the  same  govern- 
ment and  discipline.  On  this  basis  we  may  reunite,  mutually  regard- 
ing and  treating  tlie  office-bearers  and  church  courts  of  each  branch 
as  co-ordinate  elements  in  the  reconstriiction.  There  are  difficulties 
in  the  way  of  repaii-ing  the  breaches  of  Zion,  which  must  be  met  and 
overcome  by  well-considered  methods,  and  in  a  spirit  of  forbearance 
and  prudence.  Reunion  cannot  be  accomplished,  nor  is  it  to  be  de- 
sired, without  the  restoration  of  a  spirit  of  unity  and  fraternity. 
We  believe  this  spirit  exists,  and  is  constantly  increasing.  That 
which  should  first  engage  the  attention  of  the  friends  of  Reuniou 


THE    REUNION.  423 

should  be  to  find  out  how  far  unity  of  sentiment  and  kindness  of 
feeling  prevail." 


The  same  year,  at  the  opening  of  the  New  School 
Assembly  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  a  sermon  was  preached  by 
the  retiring  Moderator,  the  Rev.  Henry  B.  Smith, 
D.D.,  which  presented  the  whole  subject  of  a  Reunited 
Church  with  singular  felicity  and  power.  These 
documents  were  widely  circulated  and  freely  discussed 
throughout  the  country ;  signs  multiplied  in  every  di- 
i-ection  of  an  ever-increasing  disposition  and  purpose  to 
unite  the  two  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  United  States. 

That  the  two  Assemblies  should  meet  simultaneously 
in  the  city  of  St.  Louis  in  the  year  1866,  was  no  ac- 
cident. It  was  an  e\ddence  of  pre-concert  on  the  part  of 
influential  members  of  both  branches,  and  indicated  a 
general  expectation  that  some  formal  action  in  favor  of 
Reunion  v/ould  soon  be  inaugui^ated.  Scarcely  had 
these  Assemblies  been  organized,  before  it  appeared  that 
each  had  been  memorialized  by  a  considerable  number 
of  Presbyteries  in  different  parts  of  the  country  be- 
tween New  York  and  San  Jose,  to  take  action  in  favor 
of   reunion. 

It  was  necessary  that  these  overtures  should  receive 
official  notice.  Moreover,  in  that  city,  so  remote  from 
all  memories  and  associations  of  the  disruption,  a  Chris- 
tian spiiit  was  prevalent  which  made  it  easy  for  mem- 
bers of  the  two  Assemblies  to  meet  together  for  social 
worship  and  the  sacrament  of  the  Communion.  At 
these  services,  popular  sentiment  expressed  itself  de 
cidedly  in  favor  of  Reunion.     At  length  the  General 


424  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

Assembly  of    the  Old  School  adopted  tlie  follo^™g 
resolutions :   . 

'*  Resolved^  That  this  Assembly  expresses  its  fraternal  affection  for 
the  other  Branch  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  its  earnest  desire 
for  Reunion  at  the  earliest  time  consistent  ^^^ith  agreement  in  doc- 
trine, order,  and  policy,  on  the  basis  of  our  common  standards  and 
the  prevalence  of  mutual  confidence  and  love,  which  are  so  necessary 
to  a  happy  union  and  to  the  permanent  peace  and  prosperity  of  the 
united  Church. 

"  Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  all  our  churches  and  church 
covu'ts,  and  to  all  our  ministers,  ruling  elders,  and  communicants,  to 
cherish  fraternal  feeling ;  to  cultivate  Christian  intercourse  in  the 
worship  of  God,  in  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  Christ  ;  and  to 
avoid  all  needless  controversies  and  competitions  adapted  to  perpetu- 
ate division  and  strife. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  nine  ministers  and  six  ruling  eld- 
ers be  appointed,  provided  that  a  similar  committee  shall  be  appointed 
by  the  other  Assembly  now  in  session  in  this  city,  for  the  purpose  of 
conferring  in  regard  to  the  desirableness  and  practicability  of  Reunion, 
and  if,  after  conference  and  inquiry,  such  Reunion  shall  seem  to  be 
desirable  and  practicable,  to  suggest  suitable  measm-es  for  its  accom 
plishment,  and  report  to  the  next  General  Assembly." 

These  resolutions  were  presented  in  the  New  School 
Assembly  by  a  delegation  from  the  body  adopting  them, 
consisting  of  the  late  and  lamented  Phineas  D.  Gm-ley, 
D.D.,  of  Washington,  and  Hon.  Lincoln  Clark,  of  De- 
troit. 

With  no  unnecessary  delay,  the  Assembly  of  the  New 
School  made  response  by  passing  the  following  resolu- 
tions : 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Assembly  tender  to  the  Assembly  repre- 
senting the  other  branch  of  the  Presbjiierian  Church  its  cordial  salu- 
tations and  fellowship,  and  the  expression  of  its  earnest  wish  for  Re- 


I 


THE   EEUmOTT.  425 

union  on  the  basis  of  our  common  standards,  received  in  a  common 
spirit. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  fifteen,  nine  of  whom  shall  be 
ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and  six  ruling  elders,  be  appointed  to  confei 
on  this  subject  in  the  recess  of  the  Assemblies  with  the  Committee  to 
be  appointed  by  the  other  General  Assembly,  and  to  report  the  re- 
sults to  the  next  General  Assembly. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  enjoin  upon  this  Committee,  and  upon  all  our 
ministers  and  church-members,  to  abstain  from  whatever  may  hinder 
a  true  Christian  fellowship,  and  to  cherish  and  cultivate  those  feel- 
ings and  purposes  which  look  to  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  Zion, 
the  edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ,  and  the  complete  union  of  all  be- 
lievers, especially  of  those  who  live  in  the  same  land  and  have  the 
same  history  and  the  same  standards  of  doctrine  and  polity." 

Notwithstanding  the  spirit  of  Christian  confidence 
which  breathes  thi'ough  these  respective  resolutions,  it 
does  not  appear  that  there  was  any  definite  measure 
then  in  view  beyond  the  apj^ointment  of  the  Committee 
of  Conference,  which  was  likely  to  bring  about  the  re 
suit  contemplated.  Many  on  both  sides  were  skeptical 
as  to  any  good  likely  to  ensue  fi*om  the  proposed  con- 
ference. Some  there  were  in  each  Assembly  who  were 
personally  active  in  the  scenes  of  the  disruption.  How- 
ever, with  a  good  degree  of  unanimity,  the  above  reso- 
lutions were  passed  in  both  Assemblies,  which  imme- 
diately proceeded  to  appoint  the  proposed  Committees. 
These  were  selected  with  care,  as  representing  different 
sections  of  the  country.  Very  few  of  the  members 
were  members  of  the  Assemblies  then  in  session.  They 
were  chosen  from  the  States  of  New  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania, New  Jersey,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Missouri, 
Illinois,  Kentucky,  Minnesota,  and  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia. As  originally  constituted,  these  Committees 
were  as  follows  :  — 


426 


PRESBYTEPJAN    CHURCIL 


Those  on  the  part  of  the  Old  School  were — 
Ministers :  J.  M.  Krebs,  D.D.,  Chairman,  Drs.  C.  C. 

Beatty,  J.  T.  Backus,  P.  D.  Gurley,  J.  G.  Monfort,  W. 

D.  Ho^vard,  W.  E.  Schenck,  V.  D.  Reed,  F.  T.  Bro^Yn. 

Ruling  Elders:  Messrs.  J.  M.  Ray,  R.  McKnight,  S. 

Galloway,  H.  K.  Clarke,  G.  P.  Strong,  O.  Beatty. 
Those  on  the  part  of  the  New  School  were — 
Ministers:    Thos.    Brainerd,    D.D.,    Chairman,    Drs. 

AYilliam  Adams,  E.  F.  Hatfield,  J.  F.  Stearns,  P.  II. 

Fowler,  J.  B.  Shaw,  H.  L.  Hitchcock,  R.  W.  Patterson, 

H.    A.    Nelson.     Ruling   Elders:    E.    A.   Lambert,   J. 

Allison,  H.  Williams,  T.  P.  Handy,  R.  W.  Steele,  W. 

II.  Brown. 


J   1^   ^  .  irn.    D  II 


\.  l.iTii'.  D.D..  LL.D 


Before  these  Committees  could  meet,  events  occurred 
which  were  fitted  to  produce  unusual  sobriety.  The 
Chairmen  of  both  Committees  were  removed  fi*om  all 
partici]3ation  in  the  conference.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Brainerd 
was  suddenly  translated  to  that  world  where  all  tlie 
distinctions  of  Christian  discipleship  are  lost  in  the  har- 
mony of  heaven.  Tlie  Rev.  Dr.  Krebs  was  disabled 
by  severe  illness  from  any  shai-e  in  the  deliberations, 


THE   EEUNTOIT.  427 

and  before  long  lie  too  was  united  to  the  great  company 
of  Christian  ministers  in  the  kino-dom  of  God,     Both 

o 

of  these  brethren  were  wise  and  magnanimous,  and  their 
untimely  death  was  profoundly  felt  throughout  the 
Ohuirh. 

After  correspondence  between  members  of  the  Com 
mittees,  they  were  convened  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
February  20,  1867,  and  organized  by  the  appointment 
of  their  respective  Chairmen,  Drs.  Beatty  and  Adams. 
At  first  each  Committee  met  by  itself.  It  was  natm-al 
that  some  degree  of  awkwardness  should  exist,  when 
one  was  waiting  for  the  movement  of  the  other.  At 
length  the  two  Committees  met  in  joint  session.  Most 
of  the  members  were  personal  strangers.  But  all  es- 
trangement and  reserve  soon  disappeared  before  the 
spirit  of  prayer  and  lionorable  Christian  confidence. 
In  the  first  instance,  no  member  of  these  Committees 
was  so  sanguine  as  to  expect  immediate  action  in  favor 
of  organic  union.  The  first  proposal  looked  only  to 
closer  relations  in  the  work  of  the  Church ;  the  avoid- 
ance of  rivalry  in  the  establishment  of  new  chm-ches, 
especially  on  the  frontier  settlements.  An  arrangement 
of  this  description  had  already  been  inaugurated  by 
the  respective  Boards  of  Home  Missions.  But  after 
continued  conference,  in  which,  as  the  result  of  the 
utmost  franlvuess,  entire  confidence  was  established,  it 
dawned  upon  the  Committees  that  they  were  appointed 
to  accomplish  a  specific  thing.  To  that  point  they  now 
addi'essed  themselves  with  the  honest  and  earnest  en- 
deavor to  adjust  a  plan  for  reuniting  the  two  bodies 
which  they  severally  represented.  It  soon  appeared,  to 
their  own  surprise  and  satisfaction,  that  a  substantial 


428  PRESBTTERIxiN-   CHURCH. 

agreement  could  be  reached.  To  give  opportunity  foi 
farther  inquiry  and  information,  the  Committees  ad- 
journed to  the  month  of  May.  On  the  first  day  of 
that  monththey  reassembled  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  gave  an  entire  week  to  their  deliberations. 

The  result  of  the  conference  appears  in  the  following 
report,  which  was  made  totidem  vei^bis  by  the  two 
Chairmen  to  their  respective  Assemblies,  the  Old 
School  meeting  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  the  New  School 
in  Eochester,  K  Y.,  in  May,  1867: 

All  the  meetings  of  the  Committees  were  distiriguished  by  a  degree 
of  courtesy  and  unanimity,  which  was  more  than  common.  Com- 
posed of  men  of  decided  individuality,  representing  divers  interests 
and  sections,  they  have  discussed  every  question,  many  of  them  of 
admitted  delicacy  and  difficulty,  with  the  utmost  frankness,  without 
one  word  or  expression  of  any  kind  ever  to  be  regretted  by  Christian 
brethren  who  felt  the  grave  responsibilities  of  their  position. 

The  result  of  their  conferences  is  contained  in  the  following  docu- 
ment, adopted  in  Joint  Committee  with  remarkable  unanimity  : 

Proposed  Terms  of  Reunion  Between  the  two  Branches  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 
The  Joint  Committee  of  the  two  General  Assemblies  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  confei-ring  on  the 
desirableness  and  practicability  of  uniting  these  two  bodies,  deeply 
impressed  with  the  responsibility  of  the  work  assigned  us,  and  having 
earnestly  sought  Divine  guidance,  and  patiently  devoted  ourselves  to 
the  investigation  of  the  questions  involved,  agree  in  presenting  the 
following  for  the  consideration,  and,  if  they  see  fit,  for  the  adoption, 
of  the  two  General  Assemblies  : 

Believing  that  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  would  be 
promoted  by  healing  our  divisions ;  that  practical  union  would  greatly 
augment  the  efficiency  of  the  whole  Church  for  the  accomiilishment 
of  its  divinely  appointed  work  ;  that  the  main  causes  producing  divis- 
ion have  either  wholly  passed  away,  or  become  in  a  great  degree  in- 


( 


TECE   EEimiOIf.  429 

operative ;  and  tliat  two  bodies,  bearing  the  same  name,  adopting  the 
same  Constitution,  and  claiming  the  same  corporate  rights,  cannot  be 
justified  by  any  but  the  most  imperative  reasons  in  maintaining  sepa- 
rate and,  in  some  respects,  rival  organizations ;  and  regarding  it  as 
both  just  and  proper  that  a  Eeunion  should  be  effected  by  the  two 
Churches,  as  independent  bodies  and  on  equal  terms  ;  we  propose  the 
following  terms  and  recommendations  as  suited  to  meet  the  demands 
of  the  case  : 

1.  The  Reunion  shall  be  effected  on  the  doctrinal  and  ecclesiastical 
basis  of  our  common  standards ;  the  Confession  of  Faith  shall  con- 
tinue to  be  sincerely  received  and  adopted  "  as  containing  the  system 
of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  "  and  its  fair,  historical 
sense,  as  it  is  accepted  by  the  two  bodies  in  opposition  to  Antinomi- 
anism  and  Fatalism  on  the  one  hand,  and  to  Arminianism  and  Pela- 
gianism  on  the  other,  shall  be  regarded  as  the  sense  in  which  it  is 
received  and  adopted ;  and  the  Government  and  Discipline  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  shall  continue  to  be  ap- 
proved as  containing  the  principles  and  rule  of  our  polity. 

2.  All  the  ministers  and  churches  embraced  in  the  two  bodies 
shall  be  admitted  to  the  same  standing  in  the  united  body  which  they 
may  hold  in  their  respective  connections  up  to  the  consummation  of 
the  Union  ;  and  all  the  churches  connected  with  the  united  body,  not 
thoroughly  Presbyterian  in  their  organization,  shall  be  advised  to 
perfect  their  organization  as  soon  as  is  pennitted  by  the  highest  in- 
terests to  be  consulted ;  no  other  such  churches  shall  be  received ; 
and  such  persons  alone  shall  be  chosen  Commissioners  to  the  General 
Assembly,  as  are  eligible  according  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
Church. 

3.  The  boundaries  of  the  several  Presbyteries  and  Synods  shall  be 
adjusted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  united  Church. 

4.  The  ofiicial  records  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Church  for  the 
period  of  separation  shall  be  preserved  and  held  as  making  up  the 
one  history  of  the  Church  ;  and  no  rule  or  precedent  which  does  not 
stand  approved  by  both  the  bodies  shall  be  of  any  authority  until 
re-established  in  the  united  body. 

5.  The  corporate  rights,  now  held  by  the  two  General  Assemblies 
and  by  their  Boards  and  Committees,  shall,  as  far  as  practicable,  be 
consolidated  and  applied  for  their  several  objects  as  defined  by  law. 


480  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

6.  There  sliuU  be  one  set  of  Committees  or  Boards  for  Home 
and  Foreign  IMissions,  and  the  other  religious  enterprises  of  the 
C^liurcli,  which  the  churches  shall  be  encouraged  to  sustain,  though 
left  free  to  cast  their  contributions  into  other  channels,  if  they  desir« 
to  do  so. 

7.  As  soon  as  practicable  after  the  Union  shall  be  effected,  the 
General  Assembly  shall  reconstruct  and  consolidate  the  several  Per- 
manent Committees  and  Boards  which  now  belong  to  the  two  Assem- 
blies, in  such  a  manner  as  to  represent,  as  far  as  possible,  with  impar- 
tiality, the  views  and  wishes  of  the  two  bodies  constituting  the  united 
Church. 

8.  When  it  shall  be  ascertained  that  the  requisite  number  of  Pres- 
byteries of  the  two  bodies  have  approved  the  terms  of  Union  as  here- 
inafter provided  for,  the  two  General  Assemblies  shall  each  appoint  a 
Committee  of  seven,  none  of  them  having  an  official  relation  to 
either  the  Board  or  the  Committee  of  Publication,  who  shall  consti- 
tute a  Joint  Committee,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  revise  the  Cata- 
logues  of  the  existing  publications  of  the  two  Churches,  and  to  make 
out  a  list  from  them  of  such  books  and  tracts  as  shall  be  issued  by 
the  united  Church ;  and  any  Catalogue  thus  made  out,  in  order  to 
its  adoption,  shall  be  approved  by  at  least  fi.ve  members  of  each  Com- 
mittee. 

9.  If,  at  any  time  after  the  Union  has  been  effected,  any  of  the 
Theological  Seminaries,  under  the  care  and  control  of  the  General 
Assembly,  shall  desii'e  to  put  themselves  under  Synodical  control, 
they  shall  be  premitted  to  do  so  at  the  request  of  their  Boards  of  di- 
rection ;  and  those  Seminaries  which  are  independent  in  their  organi- 
zation shall  have  the  privilege  of  putting  themselves  under  ecclesias- 
tical control,  to  the  end  that,  if  practicable,  a  system  of  ecclesiastical 
sujiervision  of  such  Institutions  may  ultimately  prevail  thrc.gh  the 
entire  united  Church. 

10.  It  shall  be  regarded  as  the  duty  of  all  our  judicatories,  minis- 
ters, and  people  in  the  united  Church  to  study  the  things  which  make 
for  peace,  and  to  guard  against  all  needless  and  offensive  references  to 
the  causes  that  have  divided  us ;  and,  in  order  to  avoid  the  revival  of 
past  issues  by  the  continuance  of  any  usage  in  either  branch  of  the 
Church  that  has  gro^vn  out  of  our  former  conflicts,  it  is  earnestly  rec- 
ommended to  the  lower  judicatories  of  the  Church,  that  they  con- 


THE  EEmaow.  431 

form  tlieir  practice  in  relation  to  all  such  usages,  as  far  as  consistent 
wdth  their  convictions  of  duty,  to  the  general  custom  of  the  Church 
prior  to  the  controversies  that  resulted  in  the  separation. 

11.  The  terms  of  the  Reunion  shall  be  of  bindiag  force,  if  they 
shall  be  ratified  by  three  fourths  of  the  Presbyteries  connected  with 
each  branch  of  the  Chiirch  within  one  year  after  they  shall  have  been 
submitted  to  them  for  approval. 

12.  The  terms  of  the  Reunion  shall  be  published  by  direction  of  th(» 
General  Assemblies  of  1867,  for  the  deliberate  examination  of  both 
branches  of  the  Church,  and  the  Joint  Committee  shall  report  to  the 
General  AssembKes  of  1868  any  modification  of  them  they  may  deem 
desirable,  in  view  of  any  new  light  that  may  have  been  received  during 
the  year. 

13.  It  is  recommended  that  the  Hon.  Daniel  Haines,  and  the 
Hon.  Henry  W.  Green,  LL.D.,  of  New  Jersey,  Daniel  Lord,  LL.D., 
and  Theodore  W.  Dwight,  LL.D.,  of  New  York,  and  Hon.  Wil- 
liam Strong,  and  Hon.  George  Sharswood,  LL.D.,  of  Pennsylvania, 
be  appointed  by  the  general  Assemblies  a  Committee  to  investigate 
all  questions  of  property  and  of  vested  rights,  as  they  may  stand  re- 
lated to  the  matter  of  Reunion ;  and  this  Committee  shall  report  to 
the  Joint  Committee  as  early  as  the  first  of  January,  1868. 

14.  It  is  evident,  that,  in  order  to  adapt  our  ecclesiastical  system 
to  the  necessities  and  circumstances  of  the  united  Church  as  a  greatly 
enlarged  and  widely  extended  body,  some  changes  in  the  Constitution 
will  be  required.  The  Joint  Committee,  therefore,  request  the  two 
General  Assemblies  to  instruct  them  in  regard  to  the  preparation  of 
an  additional  article  on  this  subject,  to  be  reported  to  the  Assemblies 
of  1868. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Joint  Committee. 

Charles  C.  Beatty,  Chairman. 
Edwin  F.  Hatfield,  Secretary. 
New  York,  May,  7th,  1867. 

Leaving  their  Report  with  the  General  Assemblies  and  the  minis- 
ters and  churches  of  their  denomination  throughout  the  land,  your 
Committee  cannot  disregard  the  Providential  auspices  under  which 
their  recommendations  await  decision.  The  present  is  thought  to  be 
a  favorable  time,  now  that  many  questions  of  former  controversy  have 


432  PRESBTTERIAN-   CHUECH. 

lost  their  interest,  for  adopting  a  magnanimous  policy  suited  to  the 
necessities  of  our  country  and  the  woi-ld.  The  Pi'esbyierian  Church 
has  a  history  of  great  renown.  It  has  been  intimately  associated 
with  civil  and  religious  Liberty  in  both  hemispheres.  Its  republican 
and  representative  character,  the  parity  of  its  clergy,  the  simplicity 
of  its  order,  the  equity  of  its  administration,  its  sympathy  with  our 
institutions,  its  ardent  patriotism  in  all  stages  of  our  history,  its  flex- 
ible adaptation  to  our  heterogeneous  population,  its  liberal  support  of 
schools,  colleges,  and  seminaries  designed  for  general  education  and 
theological  culture,  its  firm  and  steadfast  faith  in  the  extension  of 
the  Redeemer's  Kingdom,  and  that  by  means  of  revealed  truth  and 
the  special  effusions  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  distinction  from  all  trust 
in  human  arts  and  devices,  —  all  unite  to  promise,  if  we  are  wise  and 
faithful,  a  future  for  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  these  United  States 
gi-eater  and  better  than  all  the  past.  Amid  the  changes  which  have 
occurred  around  us,  we  are  confident  that  nothing  true  and  good  wil  I 
ever  recede  or  decay  ;  and  it  becomes  all  those  who  love  the  same 
faith,  order,  and  worship,  abounding  in  love  and  hope,  to  pray  that 
God  would  count  them  worthy  of  their  calling,  that  they  may  fulfil 
all  the  good  pleasure  of  his  goodness  and  the  work  of  faith  with 
power,  that  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  may  be  glorified  in 
them,  and  they  in  him,  according  to  the  gi-ace  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee. 

William  Adams,  Chairman^  N.  S. 
Charles  C.  Beatty,  0.  S. 

New  York,  May,  7th,  1867. 

It  will  be  seen  iu  the  12tli  article  of  tliese  proposed 
terms  of  Keunion,  that  action  upon  the  merits  of  the 
plan,  was,  by  agreement,  to  be  postponed  for  an  entire 
year.  It  was  deemed  very  unadvisable  that  there 
should  be  any  appearance  of  haste.  It  would  have 
been  very  mihappy  should  any,  doubtful  as  yet  as  to 
the  expediency  of  Keunion,  have  cause  to  complain  that 
decisive  action  had  been  precijiitated  u2)on  them  with 


TIIE   EEUiaO^.  4o.l 

out  the  fullest  opportunity  for  deliberation  and  dis 
cussion.  The  Keport  recommended  that  the  Terms  oi 
Keunion,  agreed  upon  by  the  Joint  Committee,  shoukl 
be  published  by  direction  of  the  General  Assemblies, 
that  the  Committee  should  be  continued,  and  that  tliey 
should  report  to  the  Assemblies  of  1868  any  modifica- 
tion of  tliem  which  they  may  deem  desii'able,  in  view  of 
any  new  light  they  may  receive  during  the  year. 

The  course  of  events  from  this  point  onwards,  has 
been  so  faithfully  and  happily  described  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Stearns,  a  most  sagacious  and  indefatigable  member 
of  the  Joint  Committee,  in  an  article  in  the  American 
Presbyterian  Review^  for  July,  1869,  entitled  "  Histor- 
ical Sketch  of  the  Reunion,"  that  the  writer  prefers,  in- 
stead of  affecting;:  a  new  cast  of  the  facts  into  other  Ian- 
guage,  to  avail  himself  largely  of  the  narrative  pre- 
pared by  his  distinguished  associate  in  the  Committee : 

The  New  School  Assembly  approved  and  adopted  "tlie  whole 
report  with  entire  unanimity,  appointed  the  legal  committee  recom- 
mended in  Art.  13,  and  authorized 'the  Joint  Committee  to  recom- 
mend needed  changes  in  the  Constitution,  as  requested  in  Art.  14.  In 
that  of  the  Old  School,  parts  of  the  Report  encountered  opposition. 
The  special  committee  to  whom  it  was  referred,  brought  in  two  Re- 
ports. That  of  the  minority  asking  the  Assembly  to  instruct  the 
Reunion  Committee  "  to  obtain  a  more  definite  statement  of  the  doc- 
trinal basis,''''  the  exclusion  of  "  Committee  men  "  fi-om  the  Church 
Courts,  and  a  "  distinct  and  formal  recognition  of  the  right  and  ohU- 
gation  of  every  presbytery  to  be  satisfied  as  to  the  soundness  of  every 
minister  it  receives,"  was,  after  discussion,  rejected  by  a  large  major- 
ity: nays  152,  yeas  64.  Pending  a  resolution  to  adopt  that  of  the 
majority,  the  resolution  to  instruct  the  Joint  Committee  to  propose 
changes  in  the  Constitution,  as  recommended  in  Art.  14  of  the  Plan, 
was  unanimously  stricken  out ;  another  was  added  declining  to  ex- 
press either  approbation  or  disapprobation,  of  the  terms  presented  by. 


434  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

tlie  Committee  of  Reunion  in  detail,  and  the  rest  adopted  without  a 
count,  containing  the  Resolution,  "  that  this  Assembly  has  listened 
with  grateful  and  profound  satisfaction  to  the  Report  of  the  Commit- 
tee on  Church  Reunion,  and  recognize,  in  the  unanimity  of  the  Joint 
Committee,  the  finger  of  God  as  pointing  toward  an  early  and  cor- 
dial Reunion  of  the  two  sister  churches  now  so  long  separated. 

In  this  posture  of  affairs,  the  Report  of  the  "  Terms  of  Reunion  " 
went  .out  to  the  churches  and  presbyteries.  It  was,  by  order,  pub- 
lished in  the  Appendix  to  the  Minutes  of  both  Assemblies,  and  in 
the  religious  newspapers,  and  commended  to  the  careful  consideration 
of  the  whole  church.  During  the  Summer  and  Autumn,  the  provis- 
ions of  the  Plan  were  very  freely  discussed  by  the  press,  and  in  the 
presbyteries,  and  various  opinions  and  suggestions  were  elicited  con- 
cerning them.  The  Princeton  JReview,  in  its  July  number,  attacked 
the  whole  scheme  with  great  vigor,  in  an  article  written  by  Dr. 
Hodge,  and  afterwards  published  under  his  own  name  in  pamphlet 
form.  The  object  of  that  article,  he  says  in  the  prefxce  to  the  pam- 
phlet, "  is  threefold :  First,  To  sliow  that  the  true  principle  of  sub- 
scription to  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith  requires  that  those 
who  profess  to  adopt  the  system  of  doctrine  therein  contained,  should 
sincerely  receive  in  their  integrity,  all  the  doctrines  essential  to  the 
Reformed  or  Calvinistic  System.  Second,  That  this  is  the  principle 
adopted  and  insisted  upon  by  oijr  church  from  the  beginning,  and  to 
which  the  Old  School  body  stand  solemnly  pledged  before  the  Chris- 
tian world.  Tliird,  That  however  numerous  may  be  the  orthodox 
members  of  the  New  School  Presbyterian  Church,  that  Church,  as  an 
ecclesiastical  organization,  never  has  and  does  not  now  adopt  and  act 
upon  that  principle;  and,  therefore,  that  union  between  the  two 
churches  under  these  circumstances,  would  be  not  only  inexjyedient, 
but  morally  wrong.'''*  An  able  answer  to  this  article  appeared  in  the 
Presbyterian  Peview,  in  the  number  for  October,  written  by  Profes- 
sor 11.  B.  Smith,  and  afterwards  published  separately,  and  widely 
scattered  through  both  branches  of  the  Church.  In  this  article,  the 
charge  of  loose  subscription  made  against  the  New  School  was  posi- 
tively and  indignantly  denied,  and  proof  challenged.  On  the  contraiy, 
it  was  affirmed  that  the  sense  in  which  the  New  School  Church  re- 
ceived and  adopted  the  Confession  was  precisely  the  same  with  that 
claimed  as  the  true  one  by  Dr.  Hodge,  \az.,  the  Ccdvinistic:  or  Pe- 


'  THE  EEmaOTT.  435 

formed.  This  discussion  was  very  generally  read,  and  had  a  power- 
ful influence  in  disabusing  many  minds  of  their  prejudices  or  misap- 
prehensions. Both  of  the  admissions  of  Dr.  Hodge,  and  the  denials 
and  assertions  of  Professor  Smith,  tended  to  the  same  result,  —  the 
conviction  of  the  substantial  oneness  of  both  bodies  in  the  receiving 
and  adopting  of  the  Confession  of  Faith  in  the  true,  honest,  liberal 
common- sense,  and  Presbyterian  signification  of  those  words. 

But  the  question  still  remained  in  the  minds  of  some,  Was  this  a 
fair  representation  of  the  opinions  of  the  New  School  Church  ? 

In  the  month  of  November  of  that  same  year,  occurred  that  re- 
markable meeting  of  Christian  men  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  known 
as  "  The  Presbyterian  National  Union  Convention."  "  It  origi- 
nated in  a  proposal,  made  in  the  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church,  at  its  meeting  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  May,  1867,  by 
George  H.  Stuart,  Esq.,  an  elder  in  that  body,"  and  had  for  its 
object  "  to  inaugui-ate  measures  to  heal  Zion's  breaches,  and  to  bring 
into  one  the  divided  portions  of  the  Presbyterian  family."  Though 
entirely  spontaneous,  and  without  ecclesiastical  authority,  this  meet- 
ing was  composed  of  delegates  sent  by  the  repective  presbyteries  of 
the  different  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  family  in  all  parts  of  the 
land,  and  had  a  most  important  influence  on  the  progress  of  the  mea 
sures  in  operation  for  the  reunion  of  the  Old  and  New  School.  The 
presence  of  the  Spirit  of  God  was  never  more  sensibly  felt,  and  scenes 
were  there  enacted  which  will  be  x-emembered  when  the  prayer  of  the 
departing  Saviour  shall  have  reached  its  complete  fulfilment,  "  That 
they  all  may  be  one."  In  tliis  meeting  the  proposition  was  very  early 
entertained  and  adopted  to  attempt  an  organic  union  of  these  diflfer- 
ent  churches,  and  a  Committee  to  prepare  and  report  a  "  basis  of 
Tinion  "  was  appointed,  consisting  of  one  minister  and  one  elder  from 
each  of  the  churches. 

This  Committee  went  immediately  to  their  work,  and  the  next  day 
brought  in  their  report.  Meanwhile,  as  the  discussions  and  devo- 
tional exercises  proceeded,  all  hearts  seemed  melting  into  one.  The 
strongest  expressions  of  desire  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  design 
were  uttered  by  the  speakers  of  every  branch  of  the  Church  repre- 
sented, and  from  every  part  of  the  land.  A  Convention  of  Episco- 
pal brethren  in  session  in  the  same  city  had  turned  aside  from  their 
business  to  pray  for  God's  blessing  upon  our  deliberations.     We  had 


436  PRESBYTEKLVN  cnuiicn. 

reciprocated  the  fraternal  action,  and  sent  a  delegation  with  our  Chris- 
tian salutations  to  them.  The  delegation  had  returned,  reporting 
their  very  cordial  reception,  and  the  desire  on  the  part  of  the  Episco- 
pal Convention  to  reciprocate  the  courtesy  by  sending  a  correspond- 
ing delegation  to  us.  The  Report  of  the  Basis  had  been  read  and 
largely  explained  and  commented  upon  by  the  members  of  the  Com- 
mittee. The  highest  degree  of  enthusiasm  prevailed.  The  first  arti- 
cle, containing  an  aclcnowledgment  of  the  Scriptures,  had  been  revised 
and  adopted,  and  the  second,  declaring  that  "  in  the  United  Church, 
the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith  shall  be  received  and  adopted  as 
containing  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,"  was 
before  the  Convention. 

All  this  while.  Dr.  Hodge,  a  member  of  the  Convention,  had  re- 
mained perfectly  silent.  Except  a  short  prayer,  very  guarded  in  its 
language,  which  he  offered  at  the  request  of  the  Moderator,  he  had 
not  uttered  a  word.  The  reason,  as  was  supposed,  and  as  he  after- 
wards avowed,  was  his  gi-eat  surprise  at  seeing  the  turn  which  the 
affairs  of  the  Convention  took,  and  the  spirit  and  desires  of  its  mem- 
bers. "  Mr.  President,"  he  said  the  next  day,  "  I  came  to  this  Con- 
vention under  an  entire  misapprehension,  and  I  presume  that  this  is 
true  of  the  majority  of  our  Old  School  brethren.  We  thought  it 
probable  that  some  plan  of  federal  union,  which  would  allow  each 
member  of  the  confederation  to  retain  its  own  peculiarities,  and  re- 
volve in  its  own  sphere,  might  be  proposed  and  recommended.  But, 
sir,  from  the  first  hour  of  our  coming  together,  with  the  solitary  ex- 
ception of  the  remai-ks  of  Dr.  R.  J.  Breckenridge  on  the  first  day  of 
the  Convention,  I  have  not  heard  a  word  uttered  or  a  prayer  offered 
from  the  members  of  any  of  the  bodies  here  repi-esented,  wliich  did 
not  assume  that  the  organic  union  of  all  the  Presbyterian  churches  in 
the  land  was  the  object  contemplated  and  desired.  Such  being  the 
case,  I  have  taken  no  part  in  your  deliberations,  but  have  sat  in  si- 
lence, waiting  to  see  what  God,  in  his  providence  and  spirit,  would 
bring  to  pass." 

It  was  late  in  the  evening,  at  the  close  of  the  second  day,  and  the 
question  was  just  about  to  be  pvit,  when  Prof  Smith,  also  a  member 
t>f  the  Convention,  and  who  had  from  the  beginning  taken  a  warm 
interest  and  a  prominent  part  in  all  its  deliberations  and  actions, 
arose  and  said :  "  Mr.  Moderator,  it  seems  to  me  that,  in  this  ai-ticle, 


THE   KEUinOlT.  437 

we  have  reached  the  central  point,  and  that  here  we  need  to  be  care- 
ful and  circumspect,  because  we  have  come  to  the  article  where  there 
is  the  most  controversy.  There  will  be  the  most  difficulty  in  respect 
to  the  terms  of  subscrijition  as  to  the  sense  in  which  we  assent  to  the 
doctrines  presented,  and  receive  the  Confession  of  Faith  as  containing 
the  doctrines  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  I  move  that  the  follow- 
ing words  be  added  to  that  article,  namely :  *  It  being  understood 
that  this  Confession  is  received  in  its  proper  historical,  that  is,  the 
Calvinistic  or  JReformed,  sense.''  "  The  proposition  took  the  Conven- 
tion by  surprise.  Some  did  not  see  the  need  of  it ;  others  feared  it 
would  raise  a  new  and  unnecessary  discussion.  But  the  mover  per- 
sisted. To  a  friend  who  suggested  to  him  that  some  would  prefer  to 
have  him  withdraw  it,  he  replied,  "  I  have  offered  it,  and  the  Conven- 
tion may  dispose  of  it  as  they  like ;  vote  it  down  if  they  do  not  like  it." 
His  object  is  manifest  from  the  history  of  the  case  as  already  given. 
It  was  first,  to  meet  the  objections  to  the  organic  union  then  contem- 
plated, on  the  part  of  a  considerable  section  of  the  Old  School  body,  of 
which  the  Princeton  Heview  was  the  representative  ;  and,  second,  to 
test,  in  an  open  and  explicit  manner,  the  position  of  the  New  School 
on  the  subject  of  accepting  and  adopting  the  Confession.  In  this  lat- 
ter view,  its  success  was  most  signal.  There  had  been  no  concert. 
The  mover  acted  upon  his  own  responsibility.  But  when  the  ques- 
tion was  put  to  the  New  School  portion  of  the  Convention,  every  man 
except  two  (46  ayes,  to  2  nays)  immediately  voted  in  the  affirm- 
ative. And  from  that  time  to  this  we  have  never  heard  from  any 
quarter  in  our  branch  of  the  Church,  a  single  voice  dissenting  from 
the  position  there  taken  by  their  delegates.  The  result  proved,  as 
might  have  been  expected,  eminently  acceptable  to  all  candid  men  in 
both  parties.  It  had,  no  doubt,  a  most  important  influence  in  pro- 
ducing harmony  and  confidence  between  the  two  parties  in  all  parts 
of  the  Church. 

The  meeting  of  this  Convention  was  preceded  and  attended  with 
meetings  for  prayer  in  various  parts  of  the  land,  and  followed  by  a 
series  of  Union  Conventions  in  different  localities,  accompanied,  in 
some  cases,  with  special  united  celebrations  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  all 
which  served  to  deepen  the  influence. 

In  the  month  of  March  following,  18G8,  the  Joint  Committee  of 
Reunion  came  together  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  to  revise  and  com- 


438  PRESCYTEEIAX    CIIUKCIL 

I^lete  tlieir  Plan  of  Terms  to  be  recommended  to  the  General  Assem- 
blies. Vacancies  in  their  ranks  had  been  filled  by  the  appointment  of 
Dr.  J.  Edson  Kockwell,  in  the  place  of  Dr.  Ki-ebs,  Dr.  George  F 
Wiswell  in  the  place  of  Dr.  Brainerd,  and  Elder  Jacob  F,  Farrand,  in 
the  place  of  Elder  W.  H.  Brown,  since  deceased.  The  transactions 
of  the  eventful  past  year  were  before  them,  and  they  came  together 
with  the  earnest  desire,  on  all  hands,  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  case 
as  manifested  by  what  had  occurred. 

When  the  doctrinal  article  of  their  first  Report  came  before  them, 
the  members  of  the  Committee  from  the  New  School  were  satisfied  to 
let  it  stand  just  as  it  was.  The  resolutions  of  the  Convention  at 
Philadelphia  had  answered  their  end.  They  were  not  intended  for  a 
basis  for  Reimion  between  the  Old  and  New  Schools.  On  the  con- 
trary, they  expressly  disclaimed  any  such  purpose.  In  many  respects 
they  were  not  adapted  to  this  xise.  But  those  of  the  Old  School 
gi-eatly  preferred  the  doctrinal  Article  adopted  at  the  Convention,  es- 
pecially in  view  of  the  Smith  amendment,  popularly  so  called.  And 
those  of  the  New  School  were  quite  disposed  to  acquiesce,  provided 
that  Article  could  be  so  modified  as  to  adapt  it  to  the  demands  of  the 
case.  There  was  a  little  clause  in  the  original  Article  which  they 
thought  ought  to  he  retained,  viz.,  the  words  "  as  it  is  accepted  by 
the  two  bodies,"  thus  recognizing  the  equal  standing  of  both  churches 
in  respect  to  their  adoption  of  the  Confession.  But  this  was  objected 
to.  The  clause  had  met  with  misinterpretation  and  objection,  it  was 
said,  from  numbers  in  the  Old  School  body.  We  must  not  thi-ow  it 
back  upon  them.  At  one  time,  there  was  danger  of  a  very  serious 
disagreement.  But  the  New  School  members  of  the  Committee,  wish- 
ing to  avoid  such  a  result,  offered  a  choice  of  three  distinct  proposi- 
tions, to  either  of  which  they  would  cheerfuUy  assent,  viz.,  to  take 
the  original  Article  formally  approved  by  one  of  the  Assemblies,  and 
not  disapproved  by  the  other,  just  as  it  stood.  2.  To  take  the  same 
Article,  with  the  addition  of  the  Smith  amendment,  and  Avith  no 
other  alteration.  3.  To  take  the  Philadelphia  Ai-ticle,  incliMling  the 
Smith  amendment,  with  the  insertion  of  the  clause  from  the  original 
plan,  slightly  modified  so  as  to  mak  it  more  acceptable  ;  "  as  it  is 
now  maintained  by  hotlb  the  separate  bodies."  In  case  these  should 
be  unacceptable,  their  brethren  of  the  other  side  must,  they  insisted, 
fui-njsh  something  to  the  same  effect  moi-e  satisfactory  to  themselves. 


THE   EEUNION.  439 

It  VMS  in  these  circumstances  tlmt  the  Gurley  amendment,  so  called, 
was  2>'''oduced. 

The  circumstances  in  wliicli  that  important  clause 
was  proposed,  will  never  be  forgotten  by  any  one  tlien 
present.  Most  of  the  day  had  been  spent  in  vain  at- 
tempts to  agree  upon  a  form  of  statement  which  would 
be  perfectly  satisfactory  to  all.  The  two  Committees 
held  separate  meetings  for  protracted  conference.  So 
difficult  was  it  found  to  be  to  frame  a  mode  of  expres- 
sion which  woidd  at  once  remove  all  existing  misappi'e- 
hensions  and  not  be  liable  to  yet  other  misapprehensions 
on  one  side  or  the  other,  even  more  unhappy,  that  it  was 
seriously  debated  by  some  whether  it  would  not  be 
necessary  to  adjourn  all  farther  conference  and  report 
to  the  respective  Assemblies,  that  it  was  impossible  to 
agree  upon  a  doctrinal  article  not  open  to  objections 
and  implications,  such  as  had  become  apparent  in  pre- 
vious discussions. 

At  this  point  a  recess  of  some  two  hours  was  taken. 
It  was  with  heavy  hearts  that  the  Joint  Committee 
convened  again  in  the  afternoon. 

Immediately  upon  the  opening  of  the  session,  Dr. 
Gui'ley  rose  and  said  that  instead  of  going  to  his  lodg- 
ings for  refreshment,  he  had  spent  the  intermission  in 
retii-ement  and  prayer,  greatly  oppressed  by  the  des- 
pondent attitude  of  affairs  at  the  time  of  the  morning 
adjournment;  and  as  the  result  of  his  earnest  delib- 
eration, he  would  propose  an  amended  form  of  ex- 
pression which  he  ventui-ed  to  hope  might  harmonize 
all.  This  ne  said  with  great  solemnity  of  manner  and 
depth  of  emotion.  It  should  be  observed  that  Dr. 
Gurley  at  this  time  was  in  very  feeble  health,  suffermg 


440  PRESBYTERIAN    CIIURCn. 

greatly  from  tliat  painful  malady  wliicli  in  tlie  course 
of  the  summer  carried  liim  to  the  grave.  This  it  is  be- 
lieved was  the  last  public  service  rendered  by  this  most 
estimable  Christian  Minister.  His  amendment  ^vas  in 
these  words :  "  It  is  also  understood  that  various  meth- 
ods of  viewing^  stating^  exj)laining^  and  illustrating  the 
doctrines  of  the  confession^  lohich  do  not  imjyair  the  in- 
tegrity of  the  Reformed  or  Calvinistic  system^  are  to  he 
freely  alloived  in  the  United  Churchy  as  they  have  hitlv- 
erto  been  allowed  in  the  separate  QhurchesP  No  sooner 
were  these  words  uttered,  than  it  was  apparent  that  they 
met  most  happily  all  the  points  of  the  case.  They  were 
instantly  referred  to  the  Sub-Committee  who  had  been 
charged  with  framing  the  doctrinal  article.  Withdi-aw- 
ing  for  a  few  minutes  for  consultation,  they  retui-ned 
with  the  cheerful  report  that  they  were  entirely  and 
heartily  agreed,  and  upon  their  recommendation  the 
proposed  amendment  was  adopted  by  a  unanimous 
vote  of  the  Joint  Committee.  Immediately  all  anxiety 
was  removed.  Despondency  was  succeeded  by  hearty 
joy ;  with  tears  and  sobs  of  intense  emotion,  the  whole 
company  rendered  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  the 
happy  result  which  had  been  reached. 

The  difficulty  now  removed  had  not  been  owing  to 
any  misunderstanding  between  members  of  the  Com- 
mittee. It  arose  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  in  at- 
tempting to  adjust  existing  opinions  in  both  branches 
of  the  Church,  which  had  been  broucrht  out  with  m-eat 
explicitness  in  the  debates  and  discussions  of  the  year. 
The  amendment  proposed  by  Dr.  Gurley  was  intended 
to  be  a  kind  and  suitable  balance  to  the  amendment  in- 
troduced by  Dr.  Smith  in  the  Philadelphia  Convention. 


THE    EEUmOIT.  4-il 

Tlie  latter,  as  we  may  say,  was  designed  to  satisfy  tlie 
orthodox  demands  of  the  Old  School.  The  former  was 
intended  to  seciu-e  that  reasonable  liberty  within  the 
limits  of  the  Presbyterian  System  for  which  the  New 
School  had  specially  contended.  This  article  thus 
amended  and  disposed  of,  all  other  terms  of  agreement 
were  readily  adjusted. 

The  result  of  all  the  deliberations  was  presented  in 
the  following  report,  made  to  the  two  Assemblies  meet- 
ing I'espectively  at  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  and 
Albany,  K  Y.,  in  May,  1868.  This  report  had  been 
prepared  by  the  Chairmen  of  the  two  Committees,  by 
order  of  the  Joint  Committee.  The  "  Terms  of  reunion  " 
had  been  decided  upon  in  exact  and  unalterable  phrase 
by  the  Committee  itself.  These,  it  was  thought,  should 
be  accompanied  by  suitable  explanations.  The  report 
thus  prepared  was  submitted  to  all  the  members  of  the 
Committee  who  had  taken  part  in  all  these  deliberations 
and  final  action,  and  received  their  approval. 

In  these  cii'cumstances,  the  document  as  distinct  from 
the  terms  themselves  forms  a  part  of  the  history  of  re- 
union, and  is  reproduced  in  this  record  as  showing  the 
several  changes  which  had  been  made  in  the  original 
report  the  year  previous,  as  also  the  understanding 
which  existed  at  the  time  by  members  of  the  Committee 
on  either  side.  It  was  read  in  both  Assemblies  at  the 
same  hour,  previously  agreed  upon,  and  in  precisely  the 
same  words,  without  addition  or  subtraction;  the  only 
difference  being  that  in  the  one  Assembly  it  was  signed 
by  William  Adams,  and  in  the  other  by  Charles  C. 
Beatty,  as  Chairman. 


442  PRESKYTErjAX    CIIUKCH. 

EEPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  ON  REUNION,  1868. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1866  to  coi>- 
tor  with  a  similar  Committee  of  the  other  Assembly,  in  regard  to  the 
Keunion  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  con- 
tinued by  the  Assembly  of  1867,  with  directions  and  instructions  to 
co-operate  with  the  other  Committee  in  furtherance  of  the  object, 
and  "report  to  the  General  Assemblies  of  1868  any  modification  of 
the  terms  of  Union  which  might  seem  desirable  to  the  Joint  Commit- 
tee, in  view  of  any  new  light  that  may  have  been  received  during  the 
year," — would  now  respectfully  report : 

That  the  two  Committees  again  assembled  in  joint  meeting,  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  on  Wednesday,  A.  M.,  the  11th  of  March,  1868, 
and  continued  in  conference,  reviewing  the  terms  of  Union  with  the 
further  light  which  they  had  received,  tiU.  Saturday  afternoon,  the 
14th,  when,  having  finished  the  important  business  with  which  they 
were  intrusted,  they  finally  adjourned. 

Every  member  of  these  large  committees  was  present  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Rev.  Dr.  Hitchcock,  of  Ohio,  absent  in  Europe ;  Rev.  Dr.  How- 
ard, of  Pennsylvania,  detained  by  severe  illness ;  and  Judge  Strong, 
of  Missotui,  prevented  by  unavoidable  professional  engagements. 
Rev.  Dr.  Patterson,  of  Illinois,  arrived  from  a  foreign  voyage,  after  a 
long  absence,  in  season  to  meet  the  Committee ;  but  leeung  himself 
obliged  to  leave  for  home  on  Thui-sday  afternoon,  did  not  participate 
in  the  final  action.  This  lai-ge  and  patient  attendance  was  a  new  in- 
dication of  the  deep  interest  which  is  felt  throughout  the  country  in 
the  subject  under  consideration,  and  also  of  the  profound  sense  of  re- 
sponsibility on  the  part  of  the  several  members  of  the  Joint  Commit- 
tee, charged  to  take  action  in  a  matter  which  must  afiect  extensively 
and  permanently  the  interests  cf  our  country  and  the  kingdom  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

To  our  regret,  the  report  expected  from  the  legal  advisers  appointed 
to  investigate  questions  of  ])roperty  and  vested  rights  was  not  re- 
ceived, owing  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Daniel  Lord,  and  the  fact  that 
Judges  Strong  and  Sharswood  had  declined  to  act  in  the  premises, 
because  of  their  present  official  position  on  the  Bench,  After  filling 
a  vacancy  by  the  appointment  of  Hon.  William  M.  Porter,  of  Phila- 
delphia, we  requested  the  Legal  Committee  to  meet  as  soon  as  practi- 


THE  KEUNio:^-.  443 

cable  and  prepare  their  report,  wliich  will  be  submitted  by  them 
flirectly  to  the  Assemblies. 

To  affii-m  that  all  the  meetings  of  the  Joint  Committee  were  distin- 
guished, as  heretofore,  by  Christian  courtesy  and  kindness,  would  bo 
but  a  faint  expression  of  the  truth.  This  sentiment  of  fraternal  con 
fidence  and  regard  assumed  such  forms  of  expression,  that  all  wluj 
participated  in  the  conference  will  be  sure  to  remember  it,  t-s  one  of 
the  greatest  and  happiest  privileges  of  their  lives.  This  kindness  of 
feeling,  however,  did  not  repress  or  modify  the  utmost  frankness  in 
the  statement  of  difficulties,  real  and  alleged,  on  either  side.  It  ought 
to  be  stated  distinctly,  in  justice  to  all  the  many  interests  and  sec 
tions  x-epresented  by  these  Committees,  that  there  was  not  the  least 
reserve  in  the  expression  of  the  objections,  which  had  been  ui'ged  in 
any  quarter,  against  the  proposed  Reunion.  So  frartk  and  explicit 
was  this  utterance,  that  at  times  it  appeared  as  if  honest  differences 
of  opinion  would  render  success  uncertain.  But  the  effect  of  con- 
tinued and  candid  conference  was  the  increase  of  confidence,  through 
the  correction  of  misapprehensions  and  the  removal  of  obstacles,  so 
that  the  very  clouds,  which  threatened  to  obscure  the  light,  arranged 
themselves  at  last  so  as  to  reflect  and  increase  what  they  could  not 
hide.  The  prayers  of  many  Chvirches  and  Conventions,  in  different 
parts  of  the  country,  known  to  the  Committee  to  be  ascending  to 
God  in  their  behalf,  were  abundantly  answered'in  the  entire  harmony 
and  unanimity  to  which  they  eventually  attained.  By  this  unanimity 
it  is  not  meant,  that  in  every  article  and  act  of  the  Committee  the 
preferences  of  each  member  were  fuUy  met ;  but  that  all  were  finally 
agreed,  that  the  basis  of  Union  now  to  be  reported  was,  in  the  cir- 
cumstances, the  best  that  could  be  framed  in  the  way  of  adjustmg  di- 
vers conflicting  views  and  interests ;  and  as  such  it  was  adopted,  in 
the  final  vote,  with  entire  unanimity,  pledges  of  cordial  support,  and 
sincere  thanks  to  Almighty  God. 

Your  Committee  are  fully  persuaded  that,  if  the  ministers,  elders, 
and  members  of  both  branches  of  the  Church  had  been  present  at 
our  recent  conferences,  seen  what  we  saw,  and  heard  what  we  heard, 
they  would  heartily  join  in  the  result  which  was  reached  by  their 
representatives.  With  this  belief,  the  Committee  have  judged  it  ex 
pedient  and  proper  to  accompany  their  report  with  such  explanatory 


4i4  PKESEYTEIIIAN    CHUllCH. 

w^ords  as  may  serve  to  convey  to  others  tlie  facts  and  motives  wliich 
proved  of  such  weight  to  themselves. 

Your  Committee  were  not  at  liberty  to  forget  or  overlook  the  prem- 
ises upon  which  they  received  their  appointment.  The  Resolution  of 
th-e  General  Assembly  (O.  S.)  in  which  this  movement  originated, 
expressed  the  "earnest  desire''''  of  that  body  "for  Reunion  at  the 
earliest  time  consistent  with  agreement  in  doctrine,  order,  and  polity, 
on  the  basis  of  our  common  standards  and  the  prevalence  of  mutual 
confidence  and  love,"  The  General  Assembly  (N.  S.),  in  responding 
to  this  action  by  a  similar  vote,  expressed  "  its  earnest  wish  for  Re- 
union" on  a  similar  basis. 

This  EARNEST  DESIRE  for  Union,  as  confessed  by  both  bodies,  is  a 
fact  which  antedates  the  appointment  of  your  Committee.  They  were 
not  commissioned  to  inquire  whether  it  existed,  or  to  take  measi;res 
to  excite  and  promote  it.  The  existence  of  this  acknowledged  senti- 
ment was  the  basis  upon  which  the  two  Committees  were  appointed. 
These  premises  assumed,  the  position  occupied  by  the  Joint  Commit- 
tee, and  the  point  of  view  from  which  they  should  survey  their  work, 
were  abeady  decided  by  both  Assemblies. 

The  desirableness  of  Reunion,  if  it  can  be  consummated  on  satis- 
factory terms,  is  not  to  be  treated  and  put  aside  as  a  blind  and  imbe- 
cile impulse  :  it  is  the  act  and  expression  of  Christian  wisdom.  The 
movement,  thvis  inaugtirated  and  advanced,  was  not  made  necessary 
by  the  condition  or  prospects  of  either  of  the  bodies  now  in  conference. 
Each  is  thoroughly  organized,  equipped,  and  prosperous.  Neither 
needs  the  accession  of  the  other  for  its  own  sake  merely.  The  motives 
which  impel  to  Union  are  higher  and  greater  than  any  which  pertain 
to  denominational  advantage.  They  relate  to  the  welfare  of  the 
whole  country,  and  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  in  aU  the  earth.  On 
this  higli  gi-ound,  chosen  for  them  in  the  providence  of  God,  by  the 
action  of  both  Assemblies,  the  two  Committees  took  their  stand,  in- 
clined in  advance,  when  any  concessions  were  to  be  made,  that  the 
lesser  preference  should  defer  to  the  gi-eater  and  the  stronger. 

The  changes  which  have  occxirred  in  our  own  coxmtry  and  through  oiit 
the  world,  during  the  last  thirty  years  —  the  period  of  our  separation 
—  arrest  and  compel  attention.  Within  this  time  the  original  number 
of  our  States  has  been  very  nearly  doubled.  It  was  in  the  year  1837 
that  what  is  now  the  great  and  j)rosperous  State  of  Michigan  was 


THE    EEUOTO]:^.  445 

admitted  into  the  Uiiion.  Florida,  Texas,  "Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Califor- 
nia, Minnesota,  Oregon,  Kansas,  Nevada,  Nebraska,  have  followed  iu 
rapid  succession ;  with  numerous  territories  already  organized,  soon 
to  take  their  places  in  the  National  Union.  And  all  this  vast  domain 
is  to  be  supplied  with  the  means  of  education  and  the  institutions  of 
religion,  as  the  only  source  and  protection  of  our  national  life.  The 
population  crowding  into  this  immense  area  is  heterogeneous.  Six 
millions  of  emigi-ants,  representing  various  religions  and  nationalities, 
have  arrived  on  our  shores  within  the  last  thirty  years;  and  four 
millions  of  slaves  recently  enfranchised,  demand  Christian  education. 
It  is  no  secret  that  anti-Christian  forces,  —  Romanism,  Ecclesiasticisui, 
Rationalism,  Infidelity,  Materialism,  and  Paganism  itself, —  assuming 
new  vitality,  are  struggling  for  the  ascendancy.  Christian  forces 
should  be  combined  and  deployed,  according  to  the  new  movement  of 
their  adversaries.  It  is  no  time  for  small  and  weak  detachments, 
which  may  easily  be  defeated  in  detail.  A  lesson  has  been  given  us 
in  recent  years,  as  to  the  ease  with  which  diversities  of  sentiment 
may  be  harmonized  and  combined  in  one  purpose  to  maintain  the 
national  life.  The  time  has  come  when  minor  motives  should  be 
merged  in  the  magnanimous  purpose,  inspired  both  by  patriotism  and 
religion,  to  Christianize  the  whole  country. 

The  necessity  of  a  closer  union  among  Christians  of  a  common 
faith  and  order  has  come  to  be  felt,  bx  a  new  sense,  by  the  members 
of  our  several  Churches,  It  cannot  be  denied,  that  there  exists  a 
wide-spread  and  earnest  longing  for  more  of  visible  unity  among  all 
classes  of  Christian  people.  This  is  especially  noticeable  among  the 
most  intelligent,  active,  and  generous  in  our  connection.  Respond- 
ing to  the  teachings  and  challenges  of  the  pulpit,  the  laity  in  our  large 
cities  and  towns  have  entered  upon  a  new  stage  of  Christian  activity, 
demonstrating  the  possibility  of  practical  union  in  the  stewardship  of 
Christ.  In  many  quarters  there  is  an  evident  increase  of  evangelic 
life  and  energy.  With  these  facts  well  authenticated  befoi-e  them, 
your  Committee  feel  that,  should  the  elements  now  stirred  and  con- 
verging toward  union  be  diverted  and  repelled  from  their  object,  the 
efTect  would  be  most  disastrous  on  the  prospects  of  true  religion.  If 
the  hearts  of  Christian  people,  combined  already  throughout  the  land 
in  Christian  work,  should  be  disappointed  as  to  that  organic  union 
which  they  crave,  and  this  through  differences  asserted  by  the  clergy, 


446  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

•whicli  the  laity  either  do  not  understand  or  with  which  they  have  no 
sympathy,  the  certain  effect  will  be  to  lessen  the  sentiment  of  respect 
and  confidence  on  their  part  toward  their  appointed  leaders,  and 
weaken  the  force  of  paramount  motives. 

Nor  is  the  proposed  Union  desirable  on  our  own  account  only.  It 
is  inevitable  that  its  effects  should  be  felt  throughout  the  whole  of 
Christendom.  Many  of  the  ecclesiastical  organizations  of  Protestant 
Europe  had  their  origin  in  remote  controversies  connected  with  the 
Reformation.  That  was  a  time  for  the  assertion  of  truth,  rather 
than  for  the  expression  of  love.  It  was  not  so  much  a  season  for  ex- 
tending Christianity  as  for  purifying  and  preparing  it  for  future  ag- 
gression. If  we  must  judge  now,  that  segregation  was  then  carried  to 
an  extreme  beyond  what  was  required  by  necessity  and  Christian 
charity,  surely  we  possess  peculiar  advantages  in  this  country  and  age, 
for  availing  ourselves  of  a  wiser  and  happier  policy.  Nothing  is  so 
long-lived  and  inveterate  as  ancestral  memories  and  prejudices.  Be- 
fore the  world  we  are  now  engaged,  as  a  nation,  in  solving  the  prob- 
lem whether  it  is  possible  for  all  the  incongruous  and  antagonistic 
aationalities  thrown  upon  our  shores,  exerting  their  mutual  attraction 
and  repulsion,  to  become  fused  in  one  new  American  sentiment.  If 
the  several  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  country,  rep- 
resenting to  a  great  degree  ancestral  differences,  should  become  cor- 
dially united,  it  must  have  not  only  a  direct  effect  upon  the  question 
of  our  national  xinity,  but,  reacting  by  the  force  of  a  successful  exam- 
ple on  the  Old  World,  must  render  aid  in  that  direction,  to  all  wlio 
are  striving  to  reconsider  and  readjust  those  combinations,  which  had 
their  origin  either  in  the  faults  or  the^  necessities  of  a  remote  past. 
The  results  of  our  present  movement  are  eagerly  observed  by  many, 
and  its  success  or  failure  must  inevitably  affect  otlier  efforts,  at  home 
and  abroad,  looking  to  the  consolidation  of  other  branches  of  the 
Christian  Church ;  nor  can  we  doubt  that,  if  any  hindrance  should 
frustrate  the  consummation  of  that  Union  now  contemplated  by  our- 
selves, a  pang  of  giief  and  disappointment  would  be  felt  not  only  in 
our  own  country,  but  throughout  Protestant  Christendom. 

The  third  of  a  century,  the  life  of  a  whole  generation,  has  indeed 
wrought  wondrous  changes,  of  the  greatest  promise  for  the  future. 
Another  order  of  things  exists.  Old  causes  of  irritation  are  removed. 
A  new  generation  in  the  ministiy  and  the  membership  of  the  church 


THE    EEUmON.  447 

has  arisen,  with  little  sympathy  for  those  controversies  that  resulted 
in  division.  A  new  evangeKc  spirit  is  abroad,  like  the  breath  of 
spring,  inviting  to  a  new  style  of  action. 

It  would  have  betrayed  a  criminal  temper,  on  the  part  of  your 
Committee,  had  they  been  indifferent  to  those  events  and  sentiments  to 
which  they  owe  their  own  appointment,  and  under  the  influence  of 
which  they  addressed  themselves  honestly,  patiently,  and  prayerfully, 
to  the  duty  assigned  to  them.  The  result  of  their  deliberation  is 
embodied  in  the  following  document,  which  they  now  submit  for  the 
consideration  of  the  Assemblies  :  — 

Proposed  Terms  of  Reunion  between  the  two  Branches  of  tje 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 

The  Joint  Committee  of  the  two  General  Assemblies  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  conferring  on  the  de- 
sii-ableness  and  practicability  of  uniting  these  two  bodies,  deeply 
impressed  with  the  responsibility  of  the  work  assigned  us,  and  hav- 
ing earnestly  sought  Divine  guidance,  and  patiently  devoted  our- 
selves to  the  investigation  of  the  question  involved,  agree  in  pre- 
senting the  following  for  the  consideration,  and,  if  they  see  fit,  for  the 
adoption  of  the  two  General  Assemblies. 

Believing  that  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  would  be 
promoted  by  healing  our  divisions;  that  practical  union  would 
greatly  augment  the  efficiency  of  the  whole  Church  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  its  divinely  appointed  work ;  that  the  main  causes  pro- 
ducing division  have  either  wholly  passed  away,  or  become  so  far 
inoperative,  as  that  Reunion  is  now  "  consistent  with  agreement  in 
doctrine,  order,  and  polity,  on  the  basis  of  our  common  standards, 
and  the  prevalence  of  mutual  confidence  and  love ; "  and  that  two 
bodies,  bearing  the  same  name,  adopting  the  same  Constitution,  and 
claiming  the  same  corporate  rights,  cannot  be  justified  by  any  but 
the  most  imperative  reasons  in  maintaining  separate  and,  in  some 
■respects,  rival  organizations;  and  regarding  it  as  both  just  and 
proper  that  a  Reunion  should  be  effected  by  the  two  Churches,  as 
independent  bodies,  and  on  equal  terms,  we  propose  the  following 
Tei'ms  and  Recommendations,  as  suited  to  meet  the  demands  of  the 
case : 

1.  The  Reunion  shall  be  effected  on  the  doctrinal  and  ecclesiastical 


448  PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCIL 

basis  of  our  common  standards ;  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments  shall  be  acknowledged  to  be  the  inspired  Word  of  God, 
and  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice ;  the  Confession  of 
Faith  shall  continue  to  be  sincerely  received  and  adopted,  "  as  con- 
taining the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures ; "  it 
being  understood,  that  this  Confession  is  received  in  its  proper,  his- 
torical —  that  is,  the  Calvinistic  or  Reformed  —  sense ;  it  is  also 
understood  that  various  metliods  of  viewing,  stating,  explaining,  and 
illustrating,  the  doctrines  of  the  Confession,  which  do  not  impair  the 
integi-ity  of  the  Reformed  or  Calvinistic  system,  are  to  be  freely 
allowed  in  the  United  Church,  as  they  have  hitherto  been  allowed 
in  the  separate  Churches :  and  the  Government  and  Discipline  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  shall  be  approved 
as  containing  the  principles  and  rule  of  our  polity. 

2.  All  the  ministers  and  churches,  embraced  in  the  two  bodies,  shall 
oe  admitted  to  the  same  standing  in  the  united  body  which  they 
may  hold  in  their  respective  connections  up  to  the  consummation 
of  the  union ;  imperfectly  organized  churches  shall  be  counselled  and 
expected  to  become  thoroughly  Presbyterian,  as  early,  within  the 
period  of  five  years,  as  is  permitted  by  the  highest  interests  to  be 
consulted ;  and  no  other  such  churches  shall  be  hereafter  received. 

3.  The  boundaries  of  the  several  Presbyteries  and  Synods  shall  be 
adjusted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  United  Church. 

4.  The  official  records  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Church,  for  the 
period  of  separation,  shall  be  preserved  and  held  as  making  up  the 
one  history  of  the  Church ;  and  no  rule  or  precedent,  which  does  not 
stand  approved  by  both  tlie  bodies,  shall  be  of  any  authority,  \xntil 
re-established  in  the  united  body,  except  in  so  far  as  such  rule  or 
precedent  may  affect  the  rights  of  property  founded  thereon. 

5.  The  corporate  rights,  now  held  by  the  two  General  Assemblies, 
and  by  their  Boards  and  Committees,  shall,  as  far  as  practicable,  be 
consolidated,  and  applied  for  their  several  objects,  as  defined  by  law. 

6.  There  shall  be  one  set  of  Committees  or  Boards  for  Home  and 
Foreign  Missions,  and  the  other  religious  enterprises  of  the  Church, 
which  the  churches  shall  be  encouraged  to  sustain,  though  free  to 
cast  their  contributions  into  other  channels,  if  they  desire  to  do  so. 

7.  As  soon  as  practicable  after  the  imion  shall  be  efiected,  the 
General   Assembly  shall    reconstruct    and   consolidate   the   several 


THE    KEUKTON".  449 

permanent  Committees  and  Boards,  -which  now  belong  to  the  two 
Assemblies,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  represent,  as  far  as  possible,  with 
impartiality,  the  views  and  wishes  of  the  two  bodies  constituting  the 
United  Church. 

8.  The  publications  of  the  Board  of  Publication,  and  of  the  Pub- 
lication Committee,  shall  continue  to  be  issued  as  at  present,  leaving 
it  to  the  Board  of  Publication  of  the  United  Church  to  revise  these 
issues,  and  perfect  a  catalogue  for  the  joint  Church,  so  as  to  exclude 
invidious  references  to  past  controversies. 

9.  In  order  to  a  unifonn  system  of  ecclesiastical  supervision, 
those  Theological  Seminaries  that  are  now  under  Assembly  control 
may,  if  their  Boards  of  direction  so  elect,  be  transferred  to  the  watch 
and  cai'e  of  one  or  more  of  the  adjacent  Synods ;  and  the  other  Sem- 
inaries are  advised  to  inti'oduce,  as  far  as  may  be,  into  their  Consti- 
tutions, the  principle  of  Synodical  or  Assembly  supervision ;  in 
which  case,  they  shall  be  entitled  to  an  official  recognition  and  ap- 
probation on  the  part  of  the  General  Assembly. 

10.  It  is  agreed  that  the  Presbyteries  possess  the  right  to  ex- 
amiae  ministers  applying  for  admission  from  other  Presbyteries; 
but  each  Presbytery  shall  be  left  free  to  decide  for  itself  when  it 
shall  exercise  the  right. 

11.  It  shall  be  regarded  as  the  duty  of  all  our  judicatories,  min- 
isters, and  people  in  the  United  Church,  to  study  the  things  which 
make  for  peace,  and  to  guard  against  all  needless  and  offensive  refer- 
ences to  the  causes  that  have  divided  us ;  and,  in  order  to  avoid  the 
revival  of  past  issues,  by  the  continuance  of  any  usage  in  either 
branch  of  the  Church  that  has  grown  out  of  our  former  conflicts,  it 
is  earnestly  recommended  to  the  lower  judicatories  of  the  Church, 
that  they  conform  their  practice  in  relation  to  all  such  usages,  as  far 
as  is  consistent  with  their  convictions  of  duty,  to  the  general  cus- 
tom of  the  Church  prior  to  the  controversies  that  resulted  in  the 
separation. 

12.  The  Terms  of  the  Reunion,  if  they  are  approved  by  the  Genei-al 
Assemblies  of  1868,  shall  be  overtured  to  the  several  Presb}i;eriea 
under  their  care,  and  shall  be  of  binding  force,  if  they  are  ratified  by 
thi-ee  fourths  of  the  Presbyteries  connected  with  each  branch  of  the 
Church,  within  one  year  after  they  shall  have  been  submitted  to 
^em  for  approval. 


450  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

13.  If  the  two  General  Assemblies  of  1869  shall  find  that  the  plan 
of  Reunion  has  been  ratified  by  the  requisite  niunber  of  Presbyteries 
in  each  body,  they  shall,  after  the  conclusion  of  all  their  business,  be 
dissolved  by  their  respective  Moderators,  in  the  manner  and  form 
following,  viz, :  Each  Moderator  shall  address  the  Assembly  over 
which  he  presides,  saying,  "  By  virtue  of  the  authority  delegated  to 
me  by  the  Church,  and  in  conformity  with  the  Plan  of  Union 
adopted  by  the  two  Presbyterian  Churches,  let  this  Assembly  be 
dissolved ;  and  I  do  hereby  dissolve  it,  and  requii-e  a  General  Assem- 
bly chosen  in  the  same  manner,  by  all  the  Prebyteries  in  connection 
with  this  body,  and  all  those  in  connection  with  the  General  Assem- 
bly  meeting  this   year  in ,  to   meet  in ,  on   the 

; day  of  May,  A.  D.   1870 ;  and   I  do  hereby  declare   and 

proclaim,  that  the  General  Assembly  thus  constituted  wiU  be  the 
rightful  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the. United 
States  of  America,  now,  by  the  grace  of  God,  happily  united." 
Signed,  by  order  of  the  Joint  Committee. 

Charles  C,  Beatty,  Chairman. 

Edwin  F.  Hatfield,  Secretary. 
Philadelphia,  March  14,  a.  d.  1868. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  Committee  have  agreed  upon  a  few 
modifications  of  the  Basis  of  Union  reported  in  May,  1867 ;  this, 
not  so  much  from  any  change  of  opinion  on  their  own  part,  as  with 
a  view,  if  possible,  of  preventing  or  correcting  misappi-ehension,  and 
to  meet,  more  fully,  the  views  and  wishes  of  the  bodies  which  they 
represent. 

In  reference  to  the  First  Ai-ticle,  containing  the  doctrinal  basis, 
the  language  employed  is  so  explicit,  that  the  Committee  believe  it 
will  prove  satisfactory  to  all  who  desire  union  on  the  terms  of  Chris- 
tian confidence  and  honor.  First  of  all,  following  the  order  of  the 
"  Constitutional  Questions "  proposed  by  our  Fonn  of  Government 
to  all  who  are  ordained  to  the  Ministry  and  Eldership  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  we  assert  the  great  Protestant  principle  —  the  sole 
supremacy  and  undi\dded  authority  of  the  Word  of  God,  in  all  mat- 
ters of  faith  and  practice :  assigning  to  this  the  foremost  place  above 
Church,  Creed,  Confession,  School,  and  System. 

Magnifying  the  Inspired  Scriptures,  we  next  adopt,  indorse,  and 


THE   EEUNIOTT.  451 

honor,  oiir  common  Confession,  as  "containing  the  system  of  doc- 
trine taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures."  So  far  as  they  were  con- 
cerned themselves,  the  Committees  would  have  been  content  to  rest 
in  this  prescribed  form  of  words,  as  received  and  used  by  Christian 
Brethren.  Unhappily,  misapprehension,  prejudices,  and  distrust  are 
engendered  by  divisions,  to  obviate  which  the  Committee  have  en- 
deavored to  modify  the  language  of  their  former  report,  thought  by 
some  to  be  ambiguous,  so  as  to  make  it  precise,  without  surmising  or 
exaggerating  differences  of  opinion. 

In  their  judgment,  the  line  of  distinction  between  the  two  Asseni 
blies,  as  now  drawn,  does  not  consist,  as  some  have  supposed,  merely 
in  theological  diversities.  The  same  confession  is  adopted  by  all. 
It  is  adopted  in  the  same  terms  as  containing  the  same  system.  To 
make  this  agreement  the  more  determinate,  the  Committee  have 
given  this  system  its  historic  name.  At  the  same  time  that  we  mu- 
tually interchange  these  guarantees  for  orthodoxy,  we  mutually  in- 
terchange guarantees  for  Christian  liberty.  Differences  always  have 
existed  and  been  allowed  in  the  Presbyterian  Churches  in  Europe 
and  America,  as  to  modes  of  explaining  and  theorizing  within  the 
metes  and  bounds  of  the  one  accepted  system.  What  exists  in  fact, 
we  have  undertaken  to  express  in  words.  To  put  into  exact  formu- 
las lohat  opinions  should  be  allowed  and  what  interdicted,  would  be 
to  write  a  new  Confession  of  Faith.  This,  neither  Branch  of  the 
Church  desires.  Your  Committee  have  assumed  no  such  work  of 
supererogation.  Neither  have  they  made  compromises  or  conces- 
sions. They  append  no  codicil  to  the  old  Symbols.  They  have  as- 
serted, as  being  essential  to  all  true  unity,  the  necessity  of  adopting 
the  same  Confession  and  the  same  System,  with  the  recognition  of 
liberty  on  either  hand,  for  such  differences  as  do  not  impair  the  in- 
tegrity of  the  system  itself;  which  is  all  the  liberty  that  any  branch 
of  the  great  Calvinistic  family  of  Churches  has  ever  claimed  or  de- 
sired. Your  Committee  cannot  see  how  it  was  possible  for  them  to 
employ  language  more  precise  and  guarded,  unless  they  were  pre- 
pared to  substitute  "private  interpretations"  for  the  recognized 
standards  of  the  Church.  To  go  further  in  either  direction  than 
they  have  done,  would  certainly  lead  to  useless  and  endless  "  strifes 
of  words."  Language  somewhere  must  find  a  limit.  It  would  be 
impossible  so  to  frame  expressions  on  this  subject,  that  those  who  are 


452  pPwEsbyteria:n-  cnuRCii. 

opposed  to  Reunion  may  iiot  find  occasion  to  cavil  and  object.  But 
the  Committee  hope  and  trust  that  the  Article  now  reported  will 
commend  itself  to  all  fair-minded  men,  as  containing  -what  is  precise, 
vet  not  exclusive ;  definite,  yet  not  rigid ;  specific,  yet  not  inflexible ; 
liberal,  without  laxity ;  catholic,  without  latitudinariauism.  If  ex- 
act uniformity  in  all  shades  of  opinion,  in  technical  adjustments,  in 
philosophic  theories,  be  regarded  as  essential  to  union,  we  should 
earnestly  recommend  the  indefinite  adjournment  of  the  present  move- 
ment. Nor  wonld  consistency  allow  us  to  rest  here;  omt  present 
organizations  should  be  dissolved  and  exchanged  for  disintegration 
and  individualism. 

Nothing  need  be  said  in  vindication  of  the  ^Second  Article,  to 
those  who  are  fully  informed  concerning  the  churches  referred  to 
therein.  Your  Committee  had  to  deal,  not  with  abstractions,  but 
with  facts  and  realities.  The  churches  here  described  originated  in 
a  policy  which  was  itself  inaugurated  by  a  remote  neeegsity ;  their 
number  is  limited,  and  cannot  be  increased ;  the  terms  of  their  rela- 
tionship are  prescribed  and  limited  also;  their  Presbyterian  relation- 
ship is  at  present  cordial,  happy,  and  eminently  useful ;  and  some  of 
them  are  deemed,  by  the  Presbyteries  with  which  they  are  connected, 
as  among  their  most  efficient  and  excellent  churches.  As  notliing  is 
intended  by  our  action  to  disturb  the  present  relations  of  these 
churches,  so  nothing  is  designed  to  be  done,  at  any  time,  which  can 
be  regarded  as  inconsistent  with  good  faith  and  honor ;  but  such 
statements  were  made  by  those  members  of  the  Joint  Committee 
more  immediately  representing  the  sections  of  country  in  which 
these  churches  exist,  as  led  the  Committee  to  believe,  that  the 
friendly  counsel  contained  in  this  Article  would  prove  not  unaccept- 
able to  these  churches  themselves,  and  that  the  specification  of  a  defi- 
nite time  might  be  an  aid  to  them  in  perfecting  that  organization 
which  is  now  suggested  by  Christian  expediency. 

The  several  Articles,  which  contemplate  the  combination  and  re- 
adjustment of  the  respective  Boards  and  Committees  of  the  two  As- 
semblies, look  only  to  economy  and  increased  efficiency. 

The  recommendation  contained  in  the  Eighth  Article  calls  for  the 
briefest  explanation,  as  it  is  believed  that  it  will  prove  more  satis- 
factory than  the  former  Article,  to  which  various  objections  were 
made.     No  disposition  was  manifest  in  the  Committee  to  press  ia- 


THE   KEUNIOI^.  453 

vidious  distinctions  and  preferences.  Neither  Publishing  Committee 
is  to  supersede  or  indorse  the  other.  Both,  earnestly  engaged  at 
present  in  publishing  what  is  received  by  the  churches  at  large  as 
valuable  literature  iti  theology  and  practical  religion,  are  advised  to 
continue  as  now  organized,  till  such  a  new  Board  or  Committee  shall 
be  appointed  in  the  United  Church,  as,  it  may  be  supposed,  would  be 
prompted  by  every  instinct  of  Christian  propriety  to  omit  painful 
and  invidious  references  to  past  'strifes,  leaving  undisturbed  what  is 
now,  and  ever  must  be,  highly  prized  by  all  our  ministers  and 
churches. 

As  to  the  action  of  the  Committee  concerning  Theological  Semi- 
naries, as  embodied  in  Article  Nintlh  of  their  report,  all  difficulty 
springs  from  the  obvious  fact,  that  there  is  no  authority  which  is 
competent  to  forbid  the  endowment  of  Seminaries  at  any  time  by 
any  individuals  in  our  connection.  Those  Theological  Seminaries 
which  are  now  independent  of  ecclesiastical  control,  were  founded 
before  the  disruption,  and  endowed  by  men  representing  alike  what 
are  now  known  as  Old  and  New  School  Churches.  What  was  done 
then,  may  be  repeated  again.  A  o-ecommendation,  looking  to  some 
uniformity  of  ecclesiastical  supervision,  is  all  which  the  Committee 
felt  to  be  within  their  province  or  that  of  the  Assembly' ;  except  that 
those  Seminaries,  now  belonging  to  either  branch  of  the  Church, 
should  have  every  guarantee  and  protection  for  theii*  chartered  rights 
which  they  might  desii-e. 

A  new  Article,  here  designated  as  the  Tenth,  has  been  introduced, 
in  which  some  concession  has  been  made  on  both  sides,  designed  to 
reconcile  conflicting  claims  and  usages.  Many  churches  and  Presby- 
teries, in  both  Assemblies,  claim  the  right,  as  now  expressed  in  for- 
mal vote,  of  pronouncing  upon  the  expediency  of  admitting,  to  their 
own  membership,  those  who  bear  testimonials  from  correlative 
bodies.  One  Assembly  now  makes  this  obligatory  upon  all  the 
Presbyteries.  The  Committee  recommend  the  recognition  of  the 
right,  and  the  abolition  of  the  imperative  rule.  As  all  difficulties 
springing  from  this  cause  had  their  origin  in  times  of  suspicion  and 
distrust  which,  it  is  hoped,  are  passing  away,  it  is  believed  that  ihe 
whole  matter  may  safely  be  left  to  adjust  itself  in  a  new  era  of  confi- 
dence and  harmony.  In  this  connection,  however,  the  Committee 
would  particularly  refer  to  the  next  Article  (No.  11),  which  empha- 


454  PKESBYTERIAISr    CHURCH. 

sizes  the  duty  of  all  our  judicatories  to  study  the  things  •which  n)ak«= 
for  peace,  and  earnestly  recommends  to  the  Presbyteries  to  conforu 
to  earlier  and  more  ancient  usages.  The  examination  of  ministeis 
passing  from  one  Presbytery  to  another  is  altogether  unknown  to 
the  Presbyterian  Churches  of  Scotland  and  Ireland ;  nor  was  it  orig- 
inally practised  in  our  own.  The  extent  of  territory  covered  by  tho 
Presbj^terian  Church  in  the  United  States  may  have  been  one  reason 
for  another  method,  in  later  years,  in  our  own  country ;  but,  inas- 
much as  the  right  and  usage  asserted  and  defended  by  some,  and  de- 
nied and  discarded  by  others,  were  related  to  controversies  which  are 
past,  the  Committee  are  confident  that  practical  difficulties,  from  this 
quarter,  will  be  obviated  by  the  adoption  of  their  entire  action  in 
the  px'emises.  Amid  the  diversified  practices  which  now  i)revail  as 
to  this  subject  in  both  branches  of  the  Church,  this  recommendation 
of  the  Committee  was  designed  to  allay,  and  not  to  promote  distrust 
and  suspicion. 

That  some  changes  must  be  made  in  the  present  method  and  ratio 
of  representation,  is  apparent  from  the  size  of  the  two  Assemblies. 
Differences  of  opinion  also  have  long  existed  in  both  branches,  as  to 
the  powers  and  prerogatives  of  the  General  Assembly,  as  now  exei-- 
cised.  Many  are  jealous  and  apprehensive  lest  these  may  transcend 
the  limits  of  expediency  and  Constitutional  Law.  Whether  the  pro- 
posed Reunion  would  create  the  necessity  of  enlarging  the  authority 
of  the  local  Synods  and  modifying  somewhat  the  power  and  province 
of  the  General  Assembly,  is  a  subject  upon  which,  as  not  having 
been  referred  to  them,  the  Committees  have  not  felt  at  liberty  to 
make  suggestions  or  to  take  action,  beyond  that  of  commending  it  to 
the  attention  of  the  two  Assemblies,  which  they  do  in  the  following 
tei'ms,  to  wit :  — 

' '  The  Joint  Committee  recommend  that  each  of  the  two  General  Assem- 
blies of  18(J8,  appoint  a  Committee  of  five,  to  constitute  a  Joint  Committee 
of  ten,  whose  duty  shall  be  to  prepare  and  propose  to  the  first  General  As- 
sembly of  the  United  Church  a  proper  adjustment  of  the  boundaries  of  Pres- 
byteries and  Sj-nods. 

"This  Committee  shall  also  recommend  to  the  General  Assembly  any 
amendments  of  the  Constitution,  which  they  may  think  necessary  to  secure 
efficiency  and  harmony  in  the  admiaistration  of  a  Church  so  greatly  enlarged 
and  so  rapidly  extending." 


THE  EEu:cao]sr.  455 

Thus  have  the  Committee  discharged  the  duty  with  which  they 
were  intrusted.  Having  acted  to  the  best  of  their  ability,  according 
to  all  the  wisdom  they  could  command,  their  responsibility  ceases. 
The  grave  necessity  of  decisive  action  is  now  devolved  on  the  respec- 
tive Assemblies  and  Presbyteries  of  the  Church.  That  this  respon- 
sibility transcends  what  ordinarily  occurs  in  the  life  of  men,  no  one 
will  question. 

The  Union  contemplated  in  this  report  is  one  based  on  "mutual 
confidence  and  love."  The  Committees  are  awai-e  that  they  have 
personally  enjoyed  peculiar  opportunities,  in  the  way  of  intiniate  fra- 
ternal intercourse,  for  the  cidtivation  and  expression  of  these  Chris 
tian  sentiments.  Whatever  differences  may  exist  among  themselves 
on  subordinate  matters,  they  have  come  to  rest  in  mutiial  confidence 
concerning  that  which  is  of  paramount  importance.  If  the  same  sen- 
timent prevails  throughout  the  whole  Chiu-ch,  organic  Union  cannot 
be  prevented ;  if  it  should  prove  to  be  wanting,  no  technical  formu- 
las, no  cautious  definitions,  no  well-guarded  conditions,  can  produce 
union  of  any  value  or  permanence.  There  is  a  so-called  unity,  which 
is  Kke  the  freezing  together  into  one  solid  mass  of  all  inconga-uoxis 
and  heterogeneous  substances.  Such  icy  compression  is  undesirable. 
There  is  another  unity,  which  the  Holy  Ghost  has  compared  to  the 
living  "  body  fitly  joined  together,  and  compacted  by  that  which 
every  joint  supplieth,  according  to  the  effectual  working  in  the 
measure  of  eveiy  part,"  making  "  increase  of  the  body  unto  the 
edifying  of  itself  in  love.''''  Such  is  the  Divine  model  of  ecclesiasti- 
cal Union,  combining  diversity  and  harmony,  liberty  and  love,  and 
the  whole  instinct  with  life,  and  predestined  to  gi'owth  and  perfec- 
tion. Love  demands  few  conditions,  and  confidence  builds  on  some- 
thing better  than  verbal  guarantees.  Your  Committee  have  never 
expected  to  reconcile  all  local  interests,  all  private  preferences,  all 
personal  memories  and  prejudices.  Content  are  they,  if  the  Articles 
of  Agreement,  herewith  reported  and  recommended,  approve  them- 
selves to  the  thoughtful  and  judicious  ia  both  branches  of  the 
Church,  as  suited  to  promote,  not  the  advantage  of  any  school  or 
sect,  but  the  healthful  vigor  of  the  entire  Church,  the  prosperity  of 
the  whole  country,  the  honor  of  our  adorable  Lord. 

We  make  no  computation  of  majorities  and  minorities,  in  the 
United  Church,  as  related  to  past  distinctions.     We  recognize  no 


4o6  PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCH. 

such  idea  as  one  body  absorbing  the  other ;  our  whole  action  is  based 
on  the  principle  of  two  bodies,  now  independent  and  equal,  becom 
ing  assimilated  and  fused  together  in  cordial  "  agi-eement  as  to  doc- 
trine, oi'der,  and  poUcy,  on  the  basis  of  our  common  standards,  and 
the  prevalence  of  mutual  confidence  and  love,"  In  such  a  sublime 
act,  something  must  be  trusted  to  the  power  of  Christian  sentiment ; 
something  left  co  be  accomplished  by  faith  in  one  another,  as  well  as 
in  oui*  common  Lord,  Signs  are  visible  in  eveiy  quarter  of  increased 
confidence  among  Christian  churches  and  niiuisters,  long  separated 
by  ecclesiastical  difi'erences,  now  yearning  for  more  of  unity.  As 
well  might  we  deny  the  retui-n  of  spring  and  the  putting  forth  of 
buds  and  the  tender  grass,  as  question  this  obvious  fact.  Do  not 
events  indicate  a  Divine  Leadership  wliich  it  is  our  wisdom  to  ob- 
serve and  obey?  Results  have  already  been  reached,  under  Pente- 
costal effusions  of  the  Spii'it  from  on  high,  sur]>assing  the  most  san- 
guine expectations,  rebuking  unbelief,  dissolviug  prejudice,  and  be- 
tokening greater  things  to  come.  Some  things  must  be  referred  to 
the  past.  If  we  face  the  sun,  our  shadows  are  behind  us,  "  Let  the 
dead  bury  their  dead,"  It  is  our  Lord  Himself  who  teaches  us, 
that  aU  which  is  personal  and  private  should  be  held  suboi'dinate 
to  the  claims  and  aflBxiities  of  His  kingdom.  What  was  tolerated 
once  may  not  be  justified  now.  The  future  cheers  and  animates  us 
witli  brightest  prospects.  The  voice  of  the  Son  of  God  rebukes  the 
weakness  and  wickedness  of  schism,  and  enjoins  the  unity  of  faith 
and  love.  Hope  anticipates  the  time  when,  every  dissension  healed 
and  forgotten  by  Christian  charity,  all  branches  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  all  sections  of  our  common  country,  holding  the  same 
Standards,  shall  be  draNvn  together  by  patriotic  and  evangelical 
sympathies  in  cordial  and  indissoluble  vmion.  Glorious  things  are 
promised  to  the  Church,  "  in  the  day  that  the  Lord  biudeth  up  the 
breach  of  His  jjcoplc  and  healeth  the  sti'oke  of  their  wound," 

Surely  it  will  be  for  good  and  not  evil,  for  joy  and  not  sorrow, 
for  strength  and  not  weakriess,  if  henceforth  our  rule  shall  be  "  One 
body  and  one  spirit,  even  as  '  we'  are  called  in  one  hope  of  '  our'  call- 
ing. One  Lord,  one  faith,  one  baptism,  one  God  and  Father  of  all, 
who  is  iibove  all  and  througli  all  and  in  '  us'  all." 

*'  Now  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above 
all  that  we  asK'  or  think,  according  to  the  power  that  worketh  in  us, 


THE   EEUXIOI^.  457 

unto  Him  be  glory  in  tlie  Churcli  by  Christ  Jesus  througliout  all 
ages,  world  without  end.     Amen." 

Signed,  by  order  of  the  Committee. 

WiLiAM  Adams,  Chairman,  iV.  S. 
Charles  C.  Beatty,  0.  S. 
May  20,  1868. 

The  whole  subject  was  now  before  both  Assemblies 
for  action  in  the  form  of  definite  terms  for  organic  Re- 
union. The  terms  met  with  no  little  oj^position.  In  the 
Old  School,  the  opposition  was  chiefly  against  the  ex- 
planatory clauses  of  the  doctrinal  article ;  in  the  New, 
against  the  admission  of  the  tenth  article,  concerning 
the  right  of  examining  ministers  in  good  and  regular 
standing.  After  a  long  and  animated  debate,  the  whole 
plan,  as  reported  by  the  Coromittee,  was  adopted  by 
both  Assemblies,  by  a  very  large  majority,  and  accord- 
ing to  the  provisions  of  the  plan  itself  was  sent  down 
as  an  overture  to  the  Presbyteries  for  their  decision. 
In  the  Old  School  Assembly,  the  minority  disapproving 
of  the  j)lan,  entered  a  formal  protest.  This  was  an- 
swered by  Professor  Shedd,  Chairman  of  a  Committee 
appointed  for  the  pm-pose.  As  this  paper  was  ap- 
proved and  adopted  by  the  Assembly  itself,  thus  en- 
dorsing the  orthodoxy  of  the  New  School  Presljyterian 
Chm'ch,  it  is  too  important,  as  a  historic  document,  to 
be  omitted  from  this  record.     It  is  as  follows : 

ANSWER  TO  THE  PROTEST. 

In  reply  to  the  Protest  against  its  action  on  the  Terms  of  Union, 
the  Assembly  observes : 

The  authors  of  the  Protest  first  speak  of  a  series  of  doctrinal  er- 
rors and  heresies,  which  may  be   concisely  stated  as   follows :  ( 1 .  ^ 


458  PIIESBYTERIAN    CIIUKCn. 

There  is  no  moral  character  in  man  prior  to  moral  action,  and  there 
fore  man  was  not  created  holy.  (2.)  There  was  no  covenant  made 
with  Adam,  his  posterity  did  not  fall  with  him,  and  every  man  stands 
or  falls  for  himself.  (3.)  Original  sin  is  not  truly  and  properly  sin 
•liringing  condemnation,  but  only  an  innocent  tendency  leading  to 
actual  transgression.  (4.)  Inability  of  any  and  every  kind  is  incon- 
sistent with  moral  obligation.  (5.)  Kegeneration  is  the  sinner's  own 
act,  and  consists  in  the  change  of  his  governing  purpose.  (6;)  God 
cannot  control  the  acts  of  free  agents,  and  therefore  cannot  prevent 
sin  in  a  moral  system.  (7.)  Election  is  founded  upon  God's  fore- 
knowledge that  the  sinner  will  repent  and  believe.  (8.)  The  suf- 
ferings of  Christ  are  not  penal,  and  do  not  satisfy  retributive  justice. 
(9.)  Justification  is  pardon  merely,  and  does  not  include  restoration 
to  favor  and  acceptance  as  righteous. 

These  doctrinal  errors  the  authors  of  the  Protest  are  careful  to  say 
are  repudiated  by  the  great  mass  of  the  New  School  Chtirch.  They 
say  that  "  they  are  far  from  believing  or  insinuating  that  these  doc- 
trines generally  approved  by  the  New  School  Church  "  —  that  they 
do  not  impute  these  errors  to  a  majority,  or  to  any  definite  propor- 
tion of  our  New  School  brethren." 

The  charge  that  is  made  in  this  Protest,  and  the  only  charge  made 
in  this  reference  is,  that  while  the  other  branch  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  repudiate  these  doctrines  for  themselves,  they  at  the  same 
time  hold  that  they  are  consistent  with  the  Calvinism  of  the  Confes- 
sion of  Faith.  The  authors  of  the  Protest  allege  that  it  is  the  judg- 
ment of  the  New  School  body  that  a  person  can  logically  and  consist- 
ently accept  the  Westminster  symbol,  and  these  nine  or  ten  Pelagian 
and  Anninian  tenets,  at  one  and  the  same  time.  This  is  the  sub- 
stance of  their  charge. 

The  Assembly  pronounces  this  allegation  to  be  without  foundation, 
because  : 

1.  Such  a  position,  if  taken  by  the  New  School  Church,  or  by  any 
church  whatsoever,  would  simply  be  self-stultifying  and  absurd.  That 
a  great  religious  denomination,  which  from  the  beginning  of  its  or- 
ganization in  1837,  do^vn  to  the  present  time,  has  held  up  the  West- 
minster Confession  as  its  symbol,  has  compelled  eveiy  one  of  its 
ministers  and  elders  to  subscribe  to  that  symbol,  and  has  received  its 
membership  into  church  communion  upon  professing  faith  in  the  doc- 


THE    EEUXTOIT.  459 

trines  of  tliat  symbol ;  that  an  ecclesiastical  body  which  has  thus 
stood  before  the  other  churches  of  this  aud  other  lands,  as  a  Calviri- 
i»tic  body,  and  has  been  reckoned  and  recogmzed  as  such,  should  at 
the  same  time  be  jealous  in  behalf  of  the  distinguishing  doctrines  of 
Pelagianism  and  Arminianism,  and  insist  that  these  latter  are  consist- 
ent with  the  former,  and  are  to  be  tolerated  in  a  Calvinistic  body,  is 
too  much  for  human  belief.  The  entire  history  of  the  Church  does 
not  present  such  a  phenomenon  as  that  of  a  denomination  adopting, 
before  the  world,  a  definite  type  of  doctrine,  and  at  the  same  time 
claiming  that  exactly  the  contrary  type  of  doctrine  is  compatible  with 
it,  and  must  be  tolerated  within  its  communion.  If  the  New  School 
Church  are  really  doing  what  the  signers  of  this  Protest  allege  they 
are,  then  their  position  bi.'fox-e  the  churches  and  the  world  would  bo 
as  absurd  as  would  have  been  the  position  of  the  Nicene  Church,  if, 
at  the  very  time  that  it  adopted  and  defended  the  Trinitarianism  of 
Athanasius,  it  had  insisted  that  the  tenets  of  Arius  or  those  of  the 
Humanitarians  were  consistent  with  those  of  the  gi-eat  father  of  or- 
thodoxy, and  must  be  allowed  in  the  CathoKc  Church.  The  human 
mind,  even  in  its  natural  condition,  never  did  work  in  this  manner, 
and  never  will;  and  still  less  will  the  human  mind,  when  renewed 
and  sanctified  by  divine  grace,  be  guilty  of  such  a  pal]>able  incon- 
sistency. 

2.  These  very  errors,  charged  by  the  signers  of  the  Protest  as  al- 
lowed by  the  New  School  Presbyterians,  have  already  been  distinctly 
repudiated  by  them.  The  Auburn  Convention,  held  in  1837,  under 
the  influence  and  doctrinal  guidance  of  that  excellent  and  sound  di- 
vine, the  late  Dr.  Richards,  specified  sixteen  doctrinal  errors,  which 
contain  the  very  same  latitudinarian  and  heretical  tenets  mentioned 
in  the  Protest,  rejected  them  in  in  toto,  and  set  over  against  them 
sixteen  "  true  doctrines,"  which  embi-ace  all  the  fundamentals  of  the 
Calvinistic  creed.  This  Assembly  regards  the  "  Aiiburn  declaration  " 
as  an  authoritative  statement  of  the  New  School  type  of  Calvinism, 
and  as  indicating  how  far  they  desire  to  go,  and  how  much  liberty 
they  wish  in  regard  to  what  the  terms  of  union  call  "  the  various 
modes  of  explaining,  illustrating,  and  stating"  the  Calvinistic  faith. 
We  believe  that  a  large  num^ber  of  our  New  School  brethren  would 
prefer  the  modes  of  "  explaining  and  illustrating  "  the  tenets  of  Cal- 
vinism which  are  employed  by  the  authors  of  this  Protest  themselves, 


460  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

and  the  other  portion  of  the  body  claim  only  that  degree  of  varia- 
tion from  these  modes,  which  would  be  represented  by  the  theology 
of  Richards  and  the  Auburn  Declaration. 

3.  The  Assembly  is  fully  satisfied  that  any  instances  of  laxity  of 
doctrine  among  the  New  School  which  have  been  exhibited,  are  ex- 
ceptional cases,  and  that  the  great  body  of  the  other  Church  sincere- 
ly and  firmly  stand  upon  the  basis  of  oxir  common  standards.  The 
many  disclaimers  of  the  unsound  views  charged,  and  declarations 
that  the  standards  are  received  as  by  us,  which  have  been  made  by 
distinguished  and  representative  men,  and  in.  the  periodicals  of  the 
New  School  Church,  leave  no  room  to  doubt  that  the  interests  of 
sound  doctrine  will  be  safe  in  the  united  Church. 

4,  That  the  allegation  of  this  Protest  is  unfounded  is  proven  b^ 
the  fact  that  the  New  School  Church  have  adopted,  by  a  imanimous 
vote,  the  Basis  of  Doctrine  presented  by  the  Joint  Committee,  YvTiat- 
ever  may  be  the  preferences  and  opinions  of  individuals  respecting 
particular  clauses  in  the  first  ai-ticle  in  this  basis,  this  General  As- 
sembly holds  and  affirms  that  it  not  only  commits,  but  binds  any 
ecclesiastical  body  that  should  receive  it  to  pure  and  genuine  Calvin- 
ism. It  vnll  be  so  understood  by  all  the  world.  For  it  expressly 
lays  down  the  Westminster  symbol  as  the  doctrinal  i)latforni,  and 
expressly  requires  that  no  doctrine  shall  be  taught  that  is  not  Calvin- 
istic  in  the  old,  ancestral,  "  historical "  meaning  of  this  term,  or  that 
"  impairs  the  integrity  "  of  the  Calvinistic  system.  We  aflirm  that 
there  is  not  a  man  upon  the  globe,  possessed  of  a  sane  mind,  and  ac- 
quainted with  the  subject  of  doctrine,  who  would  assert  that  the  list 
of  errors  and  heresies  mentioned  by  the  signers  of  this  Protest  is 
"  Calvinistic  "  in  the  accepted  and  historical  signification  of  the  term, 
or  that  their  reception  would  not  impair  the  integrity  of  the  Calvin- 
istic system. 

And  it  must  be  distinctly  observed,  that  if  any  doctrines  had  been 
hitherto  allowed  by  the  New  School  body  which  "  impair  the  integi-ity 
of  the  Calvinistic  system,"  they  are  not  to  be  allowed  in  the  united 
Church  under  the  terms  of  union,  Siich  doctrines  are  condemned,  and 
any  one  who  may  teach  them  -will  be  subject  to  discipline.  It  is  the 
testimony  of  some  of  the  protesters  themselves  that  the  groat  body 
of  the  New  School  are  sound  in  doctrine ;  our  own  body  being  the 
large  majority  in  the  union,  when  fortified  by  the  accession  of  the 


THE   EEUT?-IO:!T.  461 

great  body  of  sound  men  in  the  other,  will  establish  and  confirm  the 
testimony  of  the  Church  to  the  truth;  will  preserve  it,  by  God's 
help,  from  error,  and  maintain,  intact,  while  it  extends,  the  purifying 
and  saving  power  of  our  venerated  Confession. 

5.  The  errors  and  heresies  alleged  in  the  Protest  are  combated  and 
refuted  in  the  Theological  Seminaries  of  the  New  School. 

Such  Seminaries  in  any  denomination  are  important  exponents  of 
its  doctrinal  position  and  character.  The  Assembly  knows  that  in 
the  three  Seminaries  of  our  New  School  brethren,  Westminster  Cal- 
vinism is  fully  and  firmly  taught.  The  Professors  in  these  are  obliged 
to  subscribe  to  the  Westminster  Confession,  and  heretical  teaching 
throws  the  Professor  out  of  his  chair  by  the  very  constitution  of 
these  Seminaries.  The  Assembly  notices  this  point,  particularly,  be- 
cause the  authors  of  the  Protest  assert  that  the  doctrinal  errors  spec  i- 
fied  by  them  "  have  been  taught  in  some  of  the  Theological  Semina 
ries  of  our  landP  This  is  not  the  proper  manner  in  vv^hich  to  affix 
so  grave  and  damaging  a  stigma  upon  our  New  School  Presbyterian 
brethren.  The  authors  of  this  Protest  ought  to  have  made  this  alle- 
gation, not  in  the  way  of  insinuation,  but  by  distinct  assertion  and 
proof.  Many  things  are  "  taught  in  the  Theological  Seminaries  of 
our  land^''  whicli  are  not  taught  in  the  Presbyterian  Seminaries  of 
the  land,  either  New  School  or  Old. 

6.  The  Protest  alleges  it  to  be  a  "  notorious  fact "  that  the  New 
School  Church  insists  that  the  hei'esies  mentioned  are  compatible 
with  Calvinism.  If  the  alleged  fact  had  been  so  "  notorious  "  as  the 
Protest  affirms,  it  would  certainly  have  been  known  to  this  Assem- 
bly, and  would  have  made  it  simply  impossible  to  have  secured  for 
the  Basis  of  the  Joint  Committee,  or  for  any  other  conceivable  basis, 
any  favorable  consideration.  .  The  idea  of  reunion  would  not  have 
been  entertained  for  a  moment. 

Furthermore,  this  Assembly  emphatically  holds  up  to  the  Church 
and  to  the  world,  that  it  receives  into  its  ministry  and  membership 
those  who  adopt  "  the  system  of  doctrine  taxight  in  our  Confession," 
and  that  it  never  has  held,  and  does  not  now  hold,  that  its  ministers 
or  members  shall  "  view,  state,  or  explain  "  that  system  ill  any  other 
than  the  words  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  our  standards ;  and  to 
show  that  this  is  the  sentiment  not  only  of  the  Assembly,  but  of  the 
protesters  themselves  also,  the  Assembly  here  cites  the  testimony  of 


462  presbyteiiia:n'  church. 

one  of  tlie  signers  of  the  Protest,  whose  words  have  been  referred  to 
in  the  discussions  just  closed.     Says  Dr.  Hodge  : 

"  If  a  man  comes  to  us,  and  he  adopts  '  the  system  of  doctrine ' 
taught  in  our  Confession,  we  have  a  right  to  ask  him,  '  Do  you  be- 
lieve there  are  three  persons  in  the  Godljead  —  the  Father,  the  Son, 
and  the  Holy  Ghost  —  and  that  these  three  are  one  God,  the  same  in 
substance,  equal  in  power  and  glory  ?  If  he  says,  Yes,  we  are  satis- 
fied. We  do  not  call  upon  him  to  explain  how  thi-ee  persons  are  one 
God,  or  to  determine  what  relations  in  the  awful  mysteries  of  the 
Godhead  are  indicated  by  the  terms  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 
If  we  ask,  Do  you  believe  that  *  God  created  man  male  and  female, 
after  his  own  image,  in  knowledge,  righteousness,  and  holiness,  with 
dominion  over  the  creatures  "  ?  and  he  answers,  Yes,  we  are  satisfied. 
If  he  says  he  believes  that  *  the  covenant  being  made  with  Adam, 
not  only  for  himself,  but  for  his  posterity,  all  mankind  descending 
from  him  by  ordinary  generation,  sinned  in  him,  and  fell  with  him, 
in  his  first  transgression,'  we  are  satisfied.  If  he  says  that  he  be- 
lieves that  '  the  sinfulness  of  that  estate  whereinto  man  fell  consists 
in  the  guilt  of  Adam's  first  sin,  the  want  of  original  righteousness, 
and  the  corruption  of  his  whole  nature,  which  is  commonly  called 
original  sin,  together  with  all  actual  trangressions  which  proceed  from 
it,'  we  are  satisfied.  If  he  says,  '  Christ  executes  the  office  of  a 
priest  in  his  once  ofiering  himself  a  sacrifice  to  satisfy  Divine  justice 
and  reconcile  us  to  God,  and  in  making  continual  intercession  for  us,' 
we  are  satisfied.  If  he  says  he  believes  justification  to  be  '  an  act  of 
God's  free  grace,  wherein  he  pardoneth  all  our  sins,  and  accepteth  us 
as  righteous  in  his  sight,  only  for  the  righteousness  of  Christ  imputed 
to  us,  and  received  by  faith  alone,'  we  are  satisfied.  Is  not  this  what 
is  meant  when  a  man  says  he  adopts  our  *  system  of  c\octrine '  ?  Is 
not  this  —  nothing  more  and  nothing  less  —  that  which  we  are  au- 
thorized and  bound  to  require  ?  God  grant  that  we  may  Tinite  on 
terms  so  simple,  so  reasonable,  and,  I  must  hope,  so  satisfactory  to 
every  sincere,  humble.  Christian  brother." — {^Rerriarhs  of  the  Rev. 
Charles  Hodge,  D.D.,  in  the  Philadelphia  Convention.) 

The  Assembly  cannot  enlarge  the  basis  beyond  the  platform  of 
God's  truth  as  stated  in  our  standards,  and  it  would  not  narrow  the 
basis  by  taking  one  tittle  from  the  form  of  sound  words  therein  con- 
tained.    We  declare  our  willingness  to  unite  with  all  those  who  pro- 


TIIE   REUNIOlSr.  403 

fess  their  faifcli  in  tlie  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  their  adoption  of  "  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Form  of  Government"  of  our  beloved 
Church. 

The  protesters  object  to  the  eighth  item  of  the  Basis,  because  it 
makes  tlie  united  Churcli  responsible  for  the  publications  of  the  New 
School  Committee.  This  is  a  misapprehension.  The  publications  of 
the  New  School  Committee  and  our  Board  are  to  be  issued  as  now, 
with  the  imprint  of  each,  until  the  new  Board  shall  prepare  a  new 
catalogue,  for  which  alone  the  united  Church  will  be  responsible. 

Again,  the  protesters  object  to  the  fourth  article  as  unsettling  past 
acts  of  our  Church.  This  is  a  matter  of  necessity  where  the  action 
of  the  two  bodies  differs.  It  is  believed,  however,  that  except  in  the 
case  of  the  imperative  clause  of  the  examination  rule  of  1837,  no 
important  difference  can  be  found.  If  it  is  otherwise,  the  united 
Church  is  the  proper  body  to  establish  its  own  usages.  We  do  not 
believe  that  our  brethren  of  the  New  School  Church  have  now  any 
sympathy  with  Congregational  views  of  government,  or  any  objec- 
tion to  usages  that  are  strictly  Presbyterian. 

The  various  amendments  proposed  by  the  protesters  were  laid  on 
the  table,  not  because  they  were  contrary  to  the  sentiment  of  the 
Assembly,  but  because,  under  the  circumstances,  it  was  not  possible 
to  engraft  them  upon  the  terms  of  the  union,  and,  in  the  judgment 
of  the  Assembly,  were  not  essential  to  the  integrity  of  the  Calvinis- 
tic  basis  on  which  the  union  is  to  be  effected. 

Wm.  G.  T.  Shedd, 
j.  g.  monfort, 
S.  Iren^us  Prime, 
H.  H.  Leavitt, 
Egbert  McKnight, 

Comviittee. 

In  the  New  School  Assembly  at  Harrisbiirg,  the  min- 
ority, after  having  expressed  their  dissent  and  their  ap- 
j)rehensions  in  regard  to  the  tenth  article,  with  few 
exceptions,  waived  their  objections  in  the  final  vote 
upon  the  whole  plan,  and  acquiesced  in  the  judgment  of 
the  majority. 


464  PRESBYTEUIA-N    CllUnCII. 

As  the  Session  of  the  Old  School  Assembly  at  Albany 
was  dra^\'ing  to  a  close,  action  was  taken  wliicli  it  i^) 
important  to  understand  correctly,  because  of  its  bear 
ing  on  all  subsequent  i:)roceedings.  In  hope  of  concili- 
ating the  7ni)iorit;j^  who  had  professed  honest  misgiv- 
ings as  to  the  effect  of  the  explanatory  clauses  of  the 
doctrinal  article,  that  Assembly  adopted  the  following 
resolution : 

While  the  Assembly  has  approved  the  Report  of  the  Joint  Com- 
mittee on  Reunion,  it  expresses  its  preference  for  a  change  in  tlie 
6rst  item  in  the  basis,  leaving  out  the  following  words,  viz. :  "  It 
being  understood  that  the  Confession  is  received  in  its  historical  — 
that  is,  the  Calvinistic  or  Reformed  sense,  —  it  is  also  understood 
that  various  methods  of  viewing,  stating,  explaining,  and  illustrating 
the  doctrines  of  the  Confession,  which  do  not  impair  the  integrity  of  the 
Reformed  or  Calvinistic  system,  are  to  be  freely  allowed  in  the  united 
Church,  as  they  have  hitherto  been  allowed  in  the  sepai-ate  churches." 
The  Assembly  believes  that  by  omitting  these  clauses  the  basis  NsilJ 
be  more  simple  and  more  expressive  of  mutual  confidence ;  and  the 
Permanent  Clerk  is  directed  to  telegi-aph  this  proposed  amendment 
to  the  Assembly  at  Harrisburg,  and  if  that  Assembly  shall  concur  in 
the  amendment,  it  shall  become  of  effect  as  the  action  of  this  Assembly 
also.  The  Assembly  also  appoints  the  Rev.  C.  C.  Beatty,  D.D.,  the 
Rev.  Y.  D.  Reed,  D.D.,  and  ruling  elders  Robert  Carter  and  Henry 
Day,  a  Committee  to  proceed  to  Harrisburg  and  personally  to  lay  this 
action  before  the  other  Assembly. 

This  Committee  immediately  put  in  execution  the 
trust  assigned  to  them ;  and  on  their  arrival  at  Harris- 
burg, were  very  cordially  received,  and  by  their  pres- 
ence and  warm  expressions  of  fraternal  love,  did  much 
to  advance  the  interest  of  Reunion.  But  the  Assembly 
at  Harrisbui'g  was  now  veiy  near  its  close.  Many  of 
its  members  had  already   obtained  leave  of   absence, 


THE    IlEUNIOxY.  4^>5 

and  on  investia:ation  it  was  found  that  tliere  was  no  Ion- 
ger  tlie  requisite  constitutional  quorum  for  reconsider- 
ing tlie  action  wliicli  had  been  taken.  A  free  confer- 
ence on  the  subject,  however,  seemed  to  warrant  the 
belief  that  the  Assembly  would  have  been  willing  to 
concur  in  the  proposal,  if  their  brethren  of  the  other 
Assembly  would  add  the  tenth  article  to  the  j^ortions  to 
be  omitted.  The  Committee  returned  to  Albany  and 
reported  the  result  of  their  mission,  and  there  the  mat 
ter  was  left  when  the  Assemblies  severally  adjourned. 

The  plan  recommended  by  the  Joint  Committee  and 
adopted  by  both  Assemblies  was  now  the  overture,  and 
the  only  one  regularly  before  the  presbyteries.  If, 
however,  ha\dng  acted  upon  that,  any  of  them  had 
chosen  to  express  theii*  approval  of  the  proposed  amend 
ments,  subject  to  the  concurrence  of  the  two  Assem 
blies,  no  embarrassment  would  have  arisen.  But,  un- 
fortunately for  the  immediate  success  of  the  effort  for 
Reunion,  other  councils  prevailed.  The  presbyteries  of 
the  New  School  acted  upon  the  regular  overture,  and 
approved  it  by  a  very  large  majority;  but  the  presby- 
teries of  the  Old  School  voted,  some  for  the  overture, 
some  for  the  amended  plan  proposed  but  not  adopted 
by  their  Assembly ;  and  still  others  ignored  both  for 
the  basis  of  "  the  standards  pure  and  simple ; "  and  by 
far  the  largest  number  effectively  rejected  the  only 
measure  legally  before  them.  In  this  state  of  affairs, 
seeing  that  that  measure  was  defeated,  not  intentionally 
on  the  part  of  most  of  the  presbyteries,  but  by  con- 
fusion of  action,  the  Reunion  Committee,  on  the  part 
of  the  New  School,  which  had  been  continued  by  that 
Assembly,  while  that  of  the  other  Assembly  had  been 


-in6  PEESByTEUIATI    CHUECH. 

(lissolv^ed,  hoping  still  to  bring  about  an  agreement, 
and  deeming  it  within  the  limits  of  their  authority  to 
attempt  to  do  so,  met  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in 
the  month  of  January,  1869,  and  adopted  the  following 
paper :  — 

ADDRESS  OF  THE  REUNION  COMMITTEE  TO  THE 
PRESBYTERIES. 

In  pursuance  of  a  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly,  at  its  meet- 
ing at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  May,  1868,  continuing  the  Committee  on  Re- 
union for  the  purpose  of  "  furnishing  such  information  as  they  may 
deem  best  to  the  churches,  in  order  to  secure  intelligent  action  on  the 
subject  of  revmion,"  the  said  Committee  met  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  on  the  20th  day  of  January,  1869. 

It  appeared  from  the  best  evidence  that  could  be  obtained,  that 
while  a  large  proportion  of  the  New  School  presbyteries,  acting  on 
the  overture  sent  down  by  both  General  Assemblies,  had  given  their 
approval  of  the  same,  most  of  the  Old  School  presbyteries  had  given 
their  approval  only  to  an  amended  basis,  for  which  their  Assembly 
had  expressed  a  preference,  in  case  the  Assembly  at  Harrisburg 
should  concur  ;  that  is,  to  the  basis  of  the  overture  with  the  omission 
in  the  first  article  of  the  following  words :  "  It  being  understood, 
etc.,  or,  as  some  of  them  have  expressed  their  action,  the  basis  of 
the  Standards  pure  and  simple." 

It  thus  appeared  that,  while  on  both  sides  there  has  been  a  very 
general  approval  of  Reunion  itself,  a  difference  of  action  has  prevailed 
which,  as  the  case  now  stands,  is  likely  to  defeat  what  we  believe  is 
the  earnest  purpose  of  a  very  large  majority  of  the  members  of  both 
branches  of  our  Church,  to  wit,  the  accomplishment  of  Reunion  at 
the  meeting  of  the  next  General  Assemblies. 

That  the  other  Assembly  did  not  intend  to  make  any  alteration  in 
the  principles  of  the  plan  submitted  by  the  Joint  Committee,  is 
clear  from  the  fact  that,  having  adopted  that  plan  by  a  large  majority, 
the  amendmeut  was  proposed  only  as  a  matter  of  "  preference," 
subject  to  the  concurrence  of  our  General  Assembly ;  and  the  reason 
given  for  the  preference  is,  that,  so  amended,  "  the  basis  would  be 
more  simple  and  more  expressive  of  mutual  confidence."  It  appears  from 


THE   REUmON".  467 

the  statement  of  tlie  Committee  sent  by  the  Assembly  at  Albany  to 
report  their  action  to  the  Assembly  at  Harrisburg,  that  they  were 
influenced  in  part  also  by  the  hope  of  reconciling  opposing  elements 
in  their  own  body,  and  so  secui'ing  in  favor  of  Reunion  greater  unani- 
mity. 

Believing  that  the  Presbyteries  connected  with  us,  and  our  branch 
of  the  Church  generally,  are  disposed  to  make  any  concessions  to 
their  brethren  of  the  other  body  not  inconsistent  with  principle,  and 
that  express  guarantees,  both  in  regard  to  doctrine  and  polity,  may  be 
safely  dispensed  with,  now  that  free  discussion  of  the  subject  has 
brought  about  so  good  an  understanding,  this  Committee  deem  it 
their  duty,  in  accordance  with  the  purpose  of  their  continuance,  to 
call  the  attention  of  the  presbyteries  to  the  present  posture  of  the 
case ;  and,  without  assuming  any  authority,  would  reccomend  that, 
at  a  regular  meeting  preceding  the  next  General  Assembly,  they  ex- 
press their  assent  to  the  amendment  referred  to,  with  the  additional 
one  (which  to  us  appears  to  carry  with  it  all  the  reasons  that  apply 
to  the  other,  and  is  regarded  by  some  as  quite  necessary  in  case  the 
other  is  adopted),  viz.,  the  omission  of  the  whole  of  the  Tenth 
Article.  We  cannot  but  trust  that  our  Old  School  brethren  will  con- 
cede this  additional  omission,  since  it  is  but  the  application  of  the 
same  principle  to  the  polity  of  the  Church  which  they  have  applied 
to  its  doctrine  ;  and  while  it  will  serve  to  harmonize  differing  prefer- 
ences among  us,  as  theirs  does  among  them,  will  be  eqiially,  with 
theirs,  expressive  of  the  same  "  mutual  confidence." 

Should  the  requisite  number  of  Presbyteries  in  both  the  bodies 
agree  to  both  these  modifications,  the  two  Assemblies  may  find  them- 
selves in  a  position  to  consummate  the  Reunion  at  the  approaching 
meeting,  and  thus  avoid  the  delay  of  another  year,  which  is  much  to 
be  deprecated,  in  order  to  frame  and  send  down  a  new  overture.  It 
must,  however,  be  well  understood,  that,  by  agreeing  to  the  omissions 
in  question,  the  Presbyteries  do  not  relinquish  nor  deny  the  right  to 
all  reasonable  liberty  in  the  statement  of  views,  and  the  interpretations 
of  the  Standards,  as  generally  expressed  in  the  First  Article  as  it  now 
stands ;  and  also  that  the  interpretation  of  their  own  language  by 
the  Joiut  Committee  in  the  preamble  and  conclusion  of  their  rei)ort, 
May,  18G8,  is  to  be  accepted  as  the  true  interpretation. 

With  these  views,  and  in  order  to  prepare  the  way  for  definite  and 


468  PRESBYTEKIATT    CIIUKCir. 

uniform  action  on  the  part  of  the  Presbyteries,  the  Committee  beg 
leave  to  submit  the  following  form,  not  to  supersede  but  to  follow 
theii-  previous  action,  in  case  they  have  already  approved  of  the  terms 
of  the  overture  :  — 

"  This  Presbytery,  having  already  approved  of  the  basis  of  Pi-eunion 
overtured  by  the  last  General  Assembly,  do  now,  in  order  to  a  final 
and  harmonious  adjustment  of  the  whole  case,  consent  to  the  amend- 
ing of  the  Basis,  by  the  omission, 

"  First,  Of  that  part  of  the  First  ai-ticle  of  the  Basis  that  begins 
with  the  words  '  It  being  understood,'  &c.,  and  ends  with  the  words 
'  In  the  separate  chnrches.'     And, 

"  Second,  Of  the  whole  of  the  Tenth  Article  of  the  basis. 

"  Wm.  Adams,  Chairman.'''' 

This  address  was  sent  to  all  tlie  presbyteries  in  connec- 
tion with  the  New  School  branch  of  the  church,  and 
published  in  the  religious  papers,  for  the  information  of 
all  parties  concerned.  Unfortunately,  again,  no  sooner 
had  the  adoj^tion  of  the  addi'ess  been  made  known 
through  the  press,  than  the  Central  Presbytery  of  Phil- 
adelphia, with  the  best  of  intentions,  we  are  bound  to 
believe,  but  without  the  slightest  consultation  with  the 
Committee  or  any  of  the  members  of  the  New  School, 
adopted  and  issued  a  cii'cular  to  the  presbyteries  of  the 
Old  School,  advising  them  to  abandon  the  whole  plan 
overtured  by  the  Assemblies^  and  vote  for  the  imion  on 
the  basis  of  the  Standards,  -without  explanations  or 
agreements,  leaving  all  the  delicate  questions  on  which 
the  Keunion  Committee  had  labored  for  nearly  three 
years  to  be  settled  as  best  they  might,  after  the  union 
should  be  consunnnated.  The  result  was  as  might  nat- 
urally liave  been  expected.  While  the  presbyteries  on 
the  one  side  voted  for  the  Committee's  measure  of 
attempted  concilation,  those  on  the  other  were  as  much 


THE  REUiaON.  469 

confused  in  tlieir  action  as  before ;  and  again  there  was 
no  agreement. 

It  was  in  this  postm-e  of  affairs  that  the  two  Assem- 
blies met  in  the  city  of  New  York,  May  17,  1869.  It 
can  liardly  be  thought  strange  that  in  the  NeAV  School 
portion  of  the  chui'ch  a  considerable  degree  of  coldness 
had  begun  to  manifest  itself.  Not  a  few  of  them  be- 
gan to  feel  that  they  had  been  trifled  with.  With  the 
utmost  confidence  in  the  good-will  and  sincerity  of 
the  friends  of  Reunion  in  the  other  chm-ch,  they 
could  not  see  why  they  should  still  pursue  their  efforts 
to  conciliate  a  small  minority  in  their  own  body,  who 
had  been  opposed  to  Reunion  fi-om  the  beginning,  to  the 
extent  of  ignoring  the  opinions  and  policy  of  its  friends 
in  the  New  School  body,  who  had  battled  with  them 
side  by  side  for  many  years,  and  of  neglecting  to  take 
them  into  their  counsels.  This  was  the  case  especially 
with  some  of  the  laymen.  Two  eminent  jurists,  mem- 
bers of  the  Assembly,  expressed  as  much  dm-ing  the 
course  of  its  meetings.  One  of  them,  who  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Reunion  Committee  from  the  first,  and 
had  declared  himself  warmly  for  Reunion  as  early  as 
1864  at  the  Assembly  of  the  Old  School  at  Newark, 
declined  for  the  first  time  to  concui*  with  the  New 
School  Conmiittee  when  they  put  forth  the  January 
letter,  thinking  it  unmse  and  beneath  theii*  dignity  to 
make  any  further  attempts  in  such  cii'cumstances. 

It  was  well  known  before  the  meeting  of  the  Assem- 
blies that  the  plan  of  Reunion  overtured  the  preceding 
year,  owing  to  the  confused  and  diverse  manner  in 
which  the  vote  had  been  taken,  had  failed  of  the  re- 
quisite endorsement  by  the  Presbyteries.     This  tended 


470  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

somewliat  to  dispirit  the  friends  of  Eeunion,  especially 
in  the  New  School  Branch.  They  approached  the 
Assembly,  so  far  as  is  known,  with  no  definite  plan. 
It  was  expected,  if  anything  was  done  toward  Heunion, 
that  it  must  be  with  considerable  delay,  and  by  the  in- 
ception of  some  new  method,  they  knew  not  what,  to 
be  inaugui'ated  by  the  other  branch.  But  it  was  soon 
evident  that  the  desire  and  purpose  for  Reunion  were 
deepened  and  not  diluted  by  delay.  A  meeting  for 
prayer  had  been  appointed  in  the  Brick  Church  the 
evening  previous  to  the  opening  of  the  Assemblies.  It 
was  instantly  appai-ent  that  all  hearts  converged  towards 
the  same  object,  and  some  of  those  who  had  for  various 
reasons  been  supposed  to  be  indisposed  to  Reunion,  now 
appeared  to  be  the  foremost  in  its  advocacy. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  session,  a  motion  was  made 
in  the  Old  School  Assembly  for  a  Committee  of  Con- 
ference to  meet  a  similar  Committee  fi'om  the  New 
School  Assembly,  to  consider  what  fui-ther  action 
should  be  taken  on  the  subject  of  reuniting  the  two 
bodies.  A  similar  Committee  was  appointed  by  the 
New  School  Assembly,  upon  infomiation  of  what  had 
been  done  by  the  other  body.  These  committees  con- 
sisted of  five  ministers  and  five  elders  fiom  eaclj 
Assembly.  On  the  part  of  the  Old  School,  the  Com- 
mittee was  composed  entirely  of  new  men.  Not  one 
who  had  served  upon  the  previous  committee  was 
reappointed.  It  is  not  known  that  any  of  these  had 
beenretm-ned  to  the  Assembly.  On  the  part  of  the 
NeAV  School,  one  half  had  been  members  of  the  original 
Committee,  ap2:)ointed  three  years  before.  This  con 
stitution  of  the  Joint  Committee  proved  to  be  favor 


TIIE    KEUNIOISr.  471 

able  to  success.  It  liad  been  suggested  more  than 
once,  in  several  quarters,  that  in  previous  conferences 
the  Old  School  Committee  had  not  been  sufficiently 
firm  and  sasjacious  in  the  maintenance  of  their  own 
ground.  Those  who  were  associated  with  them  had 
no  occasion  to  doubt  for  an  instant  their  true  and 
decided  fidelity  to  the  interests  which  they  represented, 
or  to  question  the  singular  ability  w^th  which  tliey 
discharged  their  trust.  But  for  the  wisdom,  j^atience, 
and  excellent  Christian  bearing  of  the  first  Committee, 
upon  whom  it  devolved  to  initiate  the  work  of  Reunion 
in  its  least  promising  and  most  difficult  aspects,  the  task 
of  their  successors  would  have  been  a  thousand-fold 
more  onerous.  It  will  always  be  a  very  strong  testi 
mony  to  the  wisdom  and  fidelity  and  discernment  of 
those  to  whom  reference  is  now  made,  —  the  members 
of  the  Joint  Committee  fi'om  the  Old  School,  —  that, 
in  the  final  review  by  new  men,  in  their  place,  every 
one  of  the  provisions  to  which  they  had  agreed,  even 
those  which  had  been  most  severely  criticized,  are 
retained  unaltered  in  substance. 

The  Committees  now  appointed  addressed  them- 
selves immediately  to  the  work  assigned  them  mth 
intense  earnestness.  Meantime  the  members  of  the 
two  Assemblies  were  thrown  into  intimate  intercourse. 
On  Monday  evening  a  social  entertainment  was  given 
in  Apollo  Hall  by  the  citizens  of  New  York,  in 
which  there  was  the  fi'eest  interchange  of  friendly 
sentiments.  Nearly  every  day  the  two  Assemblies 
uiet  together  for  social  worship.  By  the  guidance 
of  God's  Providence  and  Spirit,  the  tide  of  feeling  in 
expectancy   of    reunion   was    visibly   and    constantly 


472  presbyteria:n-  ciiukcii. 

rising.  Monday  morning,  a  delegation  fi'om  the  Old 
School  Assembly,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Drs.  Beatty 
and  Musgrave,  and  Hon.  Robert  McKnight,  appointed 
under  the  old  rule  of  interchange,  addressed  the  New 
School  Assembly ;  and  their  fer\nd  eloquence  kindled  a 
new  enthusiasm  for  Reunion.  Two  days  after,  the  Del- 
egates from  the  New  School,  —  Dr.  Adams  and  Hon. 
Wm.  E.  Dodge,  —  were  received  by  .the  Old  School 
Assembly  with  every  expression  of  kindness  and  re- 
spect. The  address  delivered  on  that  occasion  by  the 
former  is  here  inserted,  inasmuch  as  it  represents  the 
attitude  of  afPaii-s  upon  one  side  at  that  critical  time : 

ADDRESS   OF   REV.  DR.  ADAMS,  BEFORE   THE   OLD 
SCHOOL   ASSEMBLY. 

Mr.  Moderator,  —  Lest  it  miglit  be  supposed  by  any  that  my 
colleague  and  myself  are  the  bearers  of  some  special  overture  from  the 
Assembly  which  we  represent,  it  will  not  be  impertinent  to  premise 
that  the  appointment  under  which  we  serve  was  made  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  last  year.  It  is,  on  o\rr  part,  a  continuance  of  that 
interchange  of  fraternal  courtesies  which  was  inaugurated  several 
yeaj-s  ago,  but  which  is  now  drawing  to  a  close ;  for  I  am  awed  by 
the  thought  that  this  is  undoiibtedly  the  last  delegation  from  our 
Assembly  to  yours,  as  interchange  is  now  to  give  place  to  inter- 
hlending.  We  remember  with  delight  the  visit  of  your  delegation 
to  our  Assembly  last  year  at  Harrisburg ;  their  kinds  words,  their 
genial  spiiit,  their  noble  bearing ;  while  our  hearts  are  still  glowing 
with  the  fervent  elo(juence  of  your  commissioners,  when  addi-essiug 
us  two  days  ago ;  for  all  which  Ave  thank  both  you  and  them. 

Though  my  connection  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  has  exceeded 
thirty  years,  this  is  the  first  time  that  I  even  so  much  as  looked 
uj)on  the  General  Assembly  of  your  branch  of  the  Church.  With 
particular  men  among  you,  I  have  formed  intimate,  and  I  trust  im- 
moi-tal  friendships.  Many  of  your  names  —  pardon  me,  Mr.  Mod- 
erator, for  mentioning  your  own  among  them — belmg  to  the  com- 
mon schohuship  of  the  country ;   while  I  can  truly  say  of  the  men 


TiTE  reunio:n-.  473 

■witli  wliom  I  have  been  associated  in  the  negotiations  of  the  last 
three  years,  that  to  me  their  faces  will  ever  shine  as  did  that  of 
Moses,  though  it  may  be  added  that,  in  their  Christian  modesty, 
"  they  wist  it  not  themselves." 

To  give  first  impressions,  it  strikes  me  that  I  am  not  among 
"  strangers  and  foreigners ; "  that  you  have  the  true,  indescribable 
but  unmistakable  Presbyterian  look, — gravity  without  austerity,  dig- 
nity without  dulness  ;  or,  if  I  may  accomodate  the  descriptive  words 
of  Sir  John  Denham,  written  two  hundi'ed  years  ago,  — 

"  Though  deep,  yet  clear;  though  gentle,  yet  not  dull; 
Strong,  without  rage  ;  without  overflowing,  fulL" 

it  will  be  remembered  by  some  present,  that  shortly  after  the 
division  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  into  two  bands,  our  own  branch, 
not  having  the  most  delightful  associations  with  the  General  Assem- 
bly as  then  administered,  and  wishing  to  put  into  form  that  idea  of 
its  functions  which  had  been  propounded  by  many  of  the  fathers  of 
the  Church,  that  it  should  be  more  of  a  bond  of  union  among 
Synods  as  local  Assemblies,  and  less  of  a  supreme,  long-armed,  legis- 
lative power,  inaugurated  —  wisely  or  unwisely  —  the  system  of  Tri- 
ennial Assemblies,  and,  for  the  conduct  of  any  business  which  might 
require  action  in  the  interval,  a  conunittee  was  appointed  called  the 
"  Committee  ad  Interim^  Though  a  young  man  at  the  time,  I  had 
the  honor  to  be  a  member  of  that  Committee.  It  may  also  be  re- 
membered by  some  present  that,  in  subsequent  Assemblies  of  your 
own,  it  was  quite  common  facetiously  to  refer  to  this  Committee  of 
ours  as  "  the  Committee  ad  Interment  ; "  a  pleasant  and  witty 
mode  of  expressing  the  conviction  that  we  were  dead.  Ours  was 
not  the  first  instance  in  which  premature  burial  has  been  arrested. 
I  am  reminded  of  that  immortal  passage  in  English  literature,  famil- 
iar to  all  nurseries,  which  describes  a  certain  motherly  person  greatly 
grieved  because  of  the  death  of  her  favorite  dog, — 

"  So  she  went  out  to  buy  him  a  coffin; 
WTien  she  came  back  she  found  him  a-laughing." 

Mr.  Moderator,  we  are  not  dead.  "VVe  have  never  had  any  idea  of 
dying.  How  could  we  die  when  we  are  vitalized  by  the  sj)iri\  of 
Presbyterianism  and  by  all  the  memories  and  traditions  of  Presby- 


474  PRESBYTERIAJS"    CHURCH. 

leriaa  history  ?  It  is  very  common  for  those  who  migrate  from  the 
Old  World  to  the  New  to  be  taunted  with  the  rawness  and  recency 
of  their  origin.  If  there  is  any  virtue  in  historic  lineage,  all  such 
have  as  indefeasible  a  right  in  every  thing  which  constitutes  the 
glory  of  Bi'itain  as  those  who  still  hold  the  ancestral  cliiTs.  In  lilce 
manner,  we,  as  a  Church,  are  no  foundlings,  blushing  at  the  bend 
of  illegitimacy  in  our  coat  armorial.  All  good  and  gi*eat  Pres- 
byterian names  are  our  common  property.  Your  Alexanders, 
McDowell,  E-ice,  Miller,  are  ours,  as  our  Richards,  Skinnei', 
Bai-nes,  and  Smith,  are  yoiirs.  Chalmers,  the  Browns,  the  Erskines, 
are  ours.  The  Confession  of  Faith  is  ours.  The  old  Catechisms 
are  ours.  Presbyterianism,  in  all  its  bravery,  and  scholarship,  and 
fidelity,  is  ours,  as  truly  as  theirs  who  ever  have  lived  on  the  hills 
and  heather  of  Scotland. 

"VVe  have  nothing  to  report  concerning  our  branch  of  the  Church 
but  the  special  goodness  of  Almighty  God.  We  do  this,  not  in  pride 
and  exultation,  but,  we  trust,  with  true  gratitude  for  the  past,  and 
hvimble  dependence  on  him  for  the  future.  All  our  organizations 
for  Church  work  are  complete  and  efficient.  Special  reference  may 
be  made  to  our  Home  Missionary  work,  which  has  been  greatly  pros- 
pered. Our  receipts  for  this  object  are,  I  believe,  considerably  in 
advance  of  your  own.  There  are  many  of  these  topics,  of  which,  in 
other  circumstances,  we  might  speak  at  length  ;  but  it  will  be  ex- 
pected that  I  come  at  once  to  that  subject  of  Reunion,  which  at  this 
hour  occupies  all  minds  and  hearts. 

By  this  time,  we  must  all  be  convinced  how  much  easier  it  is  to 
break  than  to  mend,  to  tear  than  to  heal.  The  hand  of  a  child  may 
breaK  off  a  branch  from  a  rose-bush  ;  but  to  reunite  it  to  the  parent 
stock,  and  cause  it  to  grow  fibre  to  fibre,  bai'k  to  bark,  so  that  there 
shall  be  no  scar,  is  a  divine  art,  to  be  accomplished  only  by  a  Divine 
power.  In  what  has  been  done  already,  we  can  see  the  signs  of  some 
working  which  is  not  altogether  of  man.  No  man,  no  set  of  men,  on 
either  side  can  take  to  themselves  the  credit  of  that  movement  which 
has  already  advanced  so  far  towards  its  consummation.  For  myself, 
I  can  honestly  say  that  when  informed  that  my  name  was  put  on  the 
Joint  Committee,  magnanimously  inaugurated  by  your  Assembly  at  St. 
Louis,  in  1866,  I  had  very  little  faith  in  the  success  of  what  was  then 
projected.     I  see  before  me  my  friend  and  brother,  Rev.  Dr.  Beatty, 


THE    KEUNIOX.  475 

Cliairman  of  your  own  Committee  of  Fifteen,  wlio,  at  the  first  meet- 
ing of  our  Joint  Committee  in  February,  18G7,  told  us  that  lie  hoped 
from  some  summit  in  the  upper  world  one  day  to  look  down  upon 
this  E.ei;nion — a  consummation  which  he  did  not  expect  to  see  on 
the  earth.  Day  before  yesterday,  in  his  address  to  our  Assembly,  he 
expressed  the  belief  that  this  blessed  issue  was  nigh  at  hand.  I  need 
not  fall  back  upon  the  etymology  of  his  name,  which  I  have  no  doubt 
is  derived  from  the  Latin  Beatus^  to  find  reasons  for  congratulating 
him  on  his  hapj)iness  this  day.  In  nothing  is  the  good  hand  of  God 
more  conspicuous  than  in  the  delays  and  doubts  and  hindrances 
which  had  their  origin  in  honest  convictions.  The  solution  of  a 
doubt  is  oftentimes  the  strongest  confirmation  of  truth.  I  may  apply 
to  a  good  cause  what  Robert  Hall  has  said  of  meritorious  character, 
—  it  rises  superior  to  opposition,  and  di-aws  lustre  from  reproach. 
The  vapors  which  gather  about  the  rising  sun  and  follow  it  through- 
out the  day,  seldom  faU,  when  evening  comes,  to  form  a  magnificent 
theatre  for  its  reception,  and  to  invest  with  variegated  tints  and  a 
softened  efiulgence  the  luminary  which  they  cannot  hide. 

It  may  not  be  impertinent  to  say  that  as  we  know  of  nothing  in 
your  condition  as  a  Church  which  should  lead  you  to  seek  this  He- 
union  on  your  own  account,  so  there  is  nothing  in  our  condition 
which,  for  our  own  sake  merely,  makes  it  necessary  that  we  should  be 
united.  You  are  a  strong  and  venerable  Church,  needing  no  acces- 
sion of  strength  or  numbers.  We  are  young,  vigorous,  and  flexible. 
To  a  remarkable  degree,  we  are  homogeneous  and  united.  We  have 
no  jealousies,  no  roots  of  bitterness  throughout  our  large  communion. 
So  far  as  I  know,  we  have  no  questions  before  us  which  are  likely  to 
divide  us.  Slavery  is  dead.  Slavery  has  killed  itself  in  these  United 
States,  and  all  the  people  have  said  Amen.  Theological  polemics  are 
behind  us.  So  far  as  we  are  concerned,  it  must  be  confessed,  we  enjoy 
this  condition  of  things  mightily.  We  trust  that  it  will  not  be  re- 
garded as  an  offence  if  we  are  disposed  to  compare  ourselves  with  the 
herdmen  of  Isaac,  who  digged  a  well,  and  when  the  herdmen  of  Gerar 
strove  for  it,  called  it  Esek  —  Contention  —  and  passed  on ;  and  they 
digged  another  well,  and  when  they  strove  for  that,  they  called  it 
Sitnah  —  Hatred  —  and  passed  on ;  and  digged  a  third  well,  which 
they  called  Rehoboth  —  Room.  Having  dug  our  new  well  lleho- 
both,  and  finding  its  waters  sweet  and  abundant,  rejoicing  in  the 


476  Pr.ESBTTERIAN    CHUECH. 

liberty  wherewith  Christ  maketh  us  free,  there  is  no  necessity,  and 
we  have  no  wish,  for  our  own  sakes  merely,  to  go  back  to  that  which 
is  past. 

But  there  is  a  gi-ound  on  which  we  have  come  to  believe  that  re- 
union is  desii-able,  pre-eminently  desirable.  It  is  a  consideration 
higher  and  giunder  than  the  interests  of  either  branch,  —  the  good  of 
the  whole  country,  and  tlie  extension  of  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Evangelism  is  better  than  ecclesiasticism.  Our  common  Christianity 
is  nobler  and  higher  than  any  zeal  for  partisanship. 

As  we  have  been  taught  by  our  common  system  of  theology,  that 
God  foreordains  whatsoever  comes  to  pass,  making  even  the  wrath  of 
man  to  praise  Him,  we  may  suppose  that  each  of  these  distinct  bodies 
may  have  had  its  mission,  and  so  is  now  prepared  to  benefit  the 
other  in  a  new  combination ;  as  streams,  impregnated  with  the  quali- 
ties of  the  different  soils  through  which  they  run,  flow  together  and 
purify  each  other  by  the  gentle  effervescence  of  contrary  qualities.  ] 
suppose  you  will  consider  it  no  affront  if  you  are  regarded  as  the 
sj)ecial  conservators  of  orthodoxy.  Adopting  the  same  Confession  of 
Faith  with  yourselves  in  all  honesty,  we  will  not  shrink  from  being 
considered  as  the  special  advocates  and  representatives  of  liberty. 
Circumstances  have  created  these  distinctions.  You  will  not  think 
it  strange,  while  you  hold  steadfastly  to  your  orthodoxy  that  we 
should  magnify  and  assert  our  liberty.  We  have  found  it  neces- 
sary to  emphasize  the  fact  that,  within  the  bounds  of  our  common 
system  of  doctrine,  there  is  room  for  liberty.  As  there  always 
have  been,  so  there  always  will  be  diffex-ences  of  opinion  in 
unessential  particulars  among  those  who  are  agreed  heartily  in 
the  great  essentials  of  the  same  historic  system.  My  excellent  friend 
and  Vjrother,  Rev.  Dr.  Musgrave,  when  addressing  our  Assembly,  two 
days  ago,  as  your  Delegate,  said,  emphatically,  in  his  admirable  elo- 
quence, that  he  rejoiced  in  the  name  of  Calvinist,  a  name  in  which 
we  rejoice  also ;  but  we  have  never  supposed  that  in  order  to  vindi- 
cate one's  title  to  that  honored  appelation,  every  one  of  us  should  go 
through  the  world  like  the  iron  man  Talus  in  the  drama,  with  his  flail 
crushing  on  the  right  hand  and  the  left,  all  who  differ  from  us  in  per- 
mitted shades  of  o[)inion.  You  and  we  together  insist  upon  the  free 
play  of  forces  within  the  range  of  our  common  self-i)rescribed  limita- 
tions.    You    are    called    Old    School ;  we   are  called    N'eio  School. 


THE   EEUmOIT.  477 

Wlien  I  say  that  all  tlie  novelty,  all  the  innovation  in  theology  which 
we  represent  consists  in  getting  rid  of  sujyersiitions,  using  the  word 
according  to  its  exact  etymology,  to  denote  those  things  imposed  vipon 
theology  which  are  not  of  its  substance,  —  human  traditions  and 
philosophies,  which  have  attached  themselves  to  what  is  diviiie,  like 
barnacles  to  a  ship,  so  getting  back  more  and  more  to  the  old,  simple, 
primal,  granite,  eternal  facts  of  Revelation,  —  perhaps  it  will  appear 
not  altogether  impossible  to  reconcile  the  ideas  of  JVew  and  Old  in 
trvie  harmony  and  unity.  Upon  this  point  it  is  not  necessary  to 
multiply  words,  on  our  part,  especially  as  we  recall  the  generous  act 
of  your  last  Assembly,  in  amply  vindicating  our  orthodoxy  by  that 
deliverence  which,  of  your  OAvn  accord,  was  entered  upon  your 
minutes,  and  for  which  we  render  you,  in  the  name  of  all  truth  and 
fairness,  our  sincere  thanks. 

Should  this  reunion  be  consummated,  there  are  two  things,  Mr. 
JModerator,  which,  as  it  seems  to  me,  will  be  of  immense  importance, 
and  of  which  I  would  presume  to  speak  a  word,  without  appearing 
to  drop  into  the  strain  of  professional  homiletics.  The  first  relates 
to  the  mode  in  which,  from  this  time  onward,  we  are  to  treat  one  an- 
other. Nothing  is  so  long-lived  and  invetei-ate  as  prejudice  —  pro- 
fessional prejudice,  party  prejudice,  sectional  prejudice.  While  hold- 
ing to  freedom  of  speech,  the  utmost  freedom  of  the  Press,  can  any 
candid  man  deny  that  the  Church  and  the  country  are  both  suffering 
at  this  hour  from  the  misrepresentations  of  a  partisan  Press  ?  We 
have  had  enough  of  parvanimity  —  let  us  pledge  ourselves  now  to  a 
noble  magnanimity.  Let  my  right  hand  forget  its  cunning,  and  my 
tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth,  if  I  vrrite  or  speak  one  woi-d 
which  shall  tend  to  rekindle  old  prejudices,  revive  old  issues,  or  ex- 
cite distrust  and  suspicion  in  this  critical  hour  of  healiag.  If  any 
man  is  disposed  to  do  this,  to  give  heed  to  idle  rvmaor,  to  propagate 
rumors  and  suspicions  fitted  to  make  divisions,  just  when  the  tissiiea 
are  beginning  to  knit  themselves  together  into  a  new  confidence,  we 
have  inspired  authority  for  the  direction  to  mark  that  man.  What 
a  noble  opportunity  especially  is  theirs  who,  advanced  in  years  a  ad 
having  a  vivid  memory  of  former  times,  veterans  scarred  in  past  con- 
flicts, men  whose  honest  convictions  are  always  to  be  honored,  may 
so  take  the  lead,  at  this  new  era,  in  the  conquest  of  personal  preju- 
dices and  partialities,  as  that  they  shall  secure  the  love,  gratitude,  and 


47S  PRESBYTERLYIS-    CIIUIICII. 

honor  of  a  new  generation,  and  go  to  tlieir  rest  at  the  close  of  life 
with  the  benedictions  of  a  united  Church.  What  the  country  needs 
now  most  of  all,  and  the  Church  also,  is  the  restoration  of  intelligent 
confidence  between  all  its  parts,  North  and  South,  East  and  West. 
Let  the  educated  men  of  the  country,  especially  our  ministers  and 
elders,  cultivate  more  of  intercourse  and  acquaintanceship,  and  they 
will  bind  this  whole  land  into  compactness,  as  the  roots  of  the  willows 
by  the  water-courses  give  firmness  to  the  sod.  If  our  Union  is  to  be 
based  on  confidence  and  honor,  then  honor  must  be  whole-hearted. 
We  cannot  mix  clay  and  iron  and  gold  together. 

The  second  thing  is  the  wisdom  and  the  necessity  of  engaging  im- 
mediately in  larger  enterprises  of  Christian  evangelism.  This  is  the 
true  method  of  diverting  thought  from  obsolete  questions,  and  pre- 
venting new  divisions  because  of  minor  and  subordinate  matters. 
"  Doth  the  wild  ass  bray  when  he  hath  grass,  or  loweth  the  ox  over 
his  fodder  ?  "  The  true  way  to  arrest  all  senseless  brayings  and  low- 
ings  is  to  fill  heart  and  hands  with  grand  and  urgent  work.  We  are 
much  impressed  on  our  side  with  the  paramount  necessity  of  evangel- 
izing our  cities  and  new  territories,  believing  that  Presbyterianism 
has  peculiar  advantages  for  this  vast  achievement.  In  our  late 
national  struggle  manifold  were  the  diversities  of  opinion  in  regard 
to  men  and  measures,  but  these  were  all  compelled  to  follow  the  one 
grand  purpose  to  preserve  the  national  life  and  integrity.  We  read 
ill  the  Apocalypse  of  certain  forms  of  life  destined  to  annoy  the 
Church,  that  "  their  power  is  in  their  tails."  No  matter  how  many 
tails  a  serpent  may  have,  so  long  as  he  has  but  one  head  he  will  be 
able  to  glide  through  any  thicket,  every  caudal  extremity  forced  to 
obey  one  capital  tractive  power.  It  is  the  attempt  to  put  these  di- 
versities in  the  foregi-ound  —  going  as  it  were  tails  foremost  —  which 
ensui-es  either  stoppage  or  dismemberment.  Let  us  make  sure  of 
true  unity  by  undertaking  great  things  for  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord. 
Our  Theological  Seminaries  should  be  more  liberally  endowed.  The 
scholars  of  the  Church  should  be  provided  for  more  generously.  As 
thank-offerings  to  God,  new  churches  should  spring  \ip  all  over  the 
land.  Now  is  the  time  for  splendid  action.  We  have  been  skirmish- 
ing only,  iising  squads  and  detachments.  Now  for  the  bugle-note 
sounding  for  an  advance  along  the  whole  line, 

Tlavinij  drawn  an  illustration  from  the  wells  of  Isaac  of  diffbrent 


THE    REUNION-.  479 

names,  it  occurs  to  me  that  there  was  a  sequel  to  that  history  which 
justifies  a  further  analogy.  In  his  new  encampment,  Jehovah  ap- 
peared unto  Isaac  and  said,  "  I  am  the  God  of  Abraham,  thy  father : 
fear  not,  for  I  am  with  thee,  and  will  bless  thee  and  multiply  thy 
seed. "  "  Then  Abimeleck  went  to  him  from  Gerar  and  Ahuzzath, 
one  of  his  friends,  and  Phichol  the  chief  captain  of  his  army. "  And 
Isaac  said  unto  them,  "  Wherefore  come  ye  to  me,  seeing  ye  hate  me, 
and  have  sent  me  away  from  you  ?  "  And  they  said,  "  We  saw  cer- 
tainly that  the  Lord  was  with  thee  "  —  anticipating  that  fine  formula 
of  Irenseus,  "where  the  Spirit  is  there  is  the  Church,"  in  distinction 
from  the  ecclesiastical  formula,  "  Where  the  Church  is  there  is  the 
spirit "  — "  we  saw  certainly  that  the  Lord  was  with  thee  ;  and  we  said. 
Let  there  be  now  an  oath  bet^\n.xt  us  and  thee,  and  let  us  make  a 
covenant  with  thee. "  *'  So  they  made  a  feast,  and  did  eat  and  drink 
together ; "  and  the  last  well  which  was  dug  there  was  called 
Beersheba  —  Tlie  well  of  the  oath  —  for  there  those  who  had  been 
at  variance  sware  one  to  another  in  a  blessed  covenant  of  amity  and 
peace.  "  Then  Israel  sang  this  song. "  Shall  we,  ere  this  week  is 
past,  sing  it,  here  on  Murray  Hill,  by  the  side  of  o\ir  new  well  ? 
*'  Spring  up,  O  well ;  sing  ye  unto  it :  The  princes  digged  the  well, 
the  nobles  of  the  people  digged  it,  by  the  direction  of  the  lawgiver." 
So  they  journeyed  "from  the  wilderness  to  the  top  of  Pisgah." 

Pisgah !  with  what  blessed  memories  and  hopes  is  the  name  associ- 
ated. Shall  we  stand  awhile  together  upon  this  mount  of  vision  and 
look  around  us.  There  is  one  temptation  to  which  we  are  exposed 
at  this  hour,  and  that  is  elation.  So  much  is  said  of  the  excellence 
of  our  standards  of  doctrine  and  polity  that  we  are  in  danger  of  ex- 
alting them  unduly,  forgetting  that  they  are  but  instrumental  to  that 
which  is  higher  and  nobler.  Leighton  says  that  the  devil  is  alert  in 
watching  for  full  and  satisfied  souls,  just  as  pirates  look  out  for  ships 
which  are  heavily  freighted,  letting  the  empty  pass  unmolested.  If 
we  shall  be  tempted  to  pride  because  of  our  numbers  and  wealth  and 
ecclesiastical  strength,  we  shall  be  in  imminent  peril.  Believing  as 
we  all  do  that  our  Church  system  is  subordinate  to  Christianity,  let 
this  memorable  week  be  distinguished  by  the  birth  of  a  purer  and 
loftier  type  of  spiritual  religion. 

Pisgah !  how  is  the  word  associated  with  heavenly  visions  and 
hopes.     How  small  in  the  presence  of  death  those  distinctions  of 


480  PEESBYTEllIAN    CnURCll. 

which  we  make  so  much  in  "  the  pride  of  life.  "  What  difference  can 
we  imagine  there  is  now  between  Elrebs  and  Brainerd,  Erskini; 
Mason  and  James  W.  Alexander,  and  all  those  who  have  been  wel- 
comed by  the  Lord  of  glory  to  His  presence  out  of  these  two  sepa- 
rated Branches  of  the  Church  on  earth?  How  are  we  to  account  for 
that  physiological  fact  which  has  so  often  come  under  our  profes- 
sional notice,  that  as  nature  dissolves  itself  into  its  simplest  elements^ 
the  moral  affections  come  forth  with  utmost  tenderness  and  power. 
Some  twenty  years  ago,  when  our  partisan  prejudices  were  in  their 
first  heat  and  strength,  I  had  a  neighbor,  eminent  for  his  scholarship 
and  for  his  legal  reputation  and  oiBce,  who  was  so  thoi-oughly  impreg- 
nated -with  theological  partialities  that  he  could  regard  me  only  with 
cold  distrust  and  suspicion.  For  years  our  intercoxirse  was  confined 
to  the  most  frigid  forms  of  civility.  He  was  seized  by  painful  and 
fatal  illness,  during  which,  at  his  request,  I  frequently  visited  him. 
Not  a  word  ever  passed  between  us  pertaining  to  different  schools  and 
systems.  We  talked  of  "  the  common  salvation."  All  that  vras  rigid 
and  exclusive  disappeared.  Every  thing  that  was  sweet  and  tender 
and  gentle  came  forth.  How  often  did  he  take  my  hand  and  kiss  it 
over  and  over  again  in  fondest  affection.  The  intellectual  gave  place 
to  the  moral  —  the  simple  affections  of  the  heart  asserted  their 
supremacy.  Why  should  we  defer  till  the  process  of  dissolution  that 
union  which  is  sure  to  be  at  last  through  the  medium  of  Christian 
love?  "All  my  theology,"  said  that  sweet  saint,  Dr.  Archibald 
Alexander,  when  waiting  and  listening  for  the  footsteps  of  his  JMas- 
ter,  "  is  reduced  to  this  brief  compass  —  the  faithful  saying,  worthy 
of  all  acceptation,  that  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world  to  save 
sinners." 

My  dear  Mr.  Moderator,  pardon  my  prolixity,  and  accept  the 
most  cordial,  fratei-nal,  and  Christian  salutations  for  yourself,  and  the 
Assembly  over  which  you  preside,  from  those  whom  we  have  the 
honor  to  represent.  God  bless  you  and  them  in  all  things !  God 
bless  all  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church !  God  bless  all  true 
Christian  ministers  and  men ;  "  all  who,  in  every  place,  call  upon  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  both  theirs  and  ours !  "  In  this  day 
of  gladness,  because  of  the  reunion  of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  let  us 
chant  together  the  jubilant  words  which  the  Sjnrit  of  God  has  made 
ready  for  our  u:-;e,  "  Jerusalem  is  builded  as  a  city  that  is  compact  to- 


THE    REUNION. 


481 


gether.  Pray  for  tlie  peace  of  Jerusalem.  For  my  brethren  and 
companions'  sakes,  I  will  now  say,  Peace  be  witMn  thee.  Because  of 
the  house  of  the  Lord  our  God,  I  will  seek  thy  good." 

A  week  had  elapsed  since  the  opening  of  the  Assem- 
blies, and  on  Thursday,  the  seventh  day,  the  Joint  Com- 
mittee was  ready  to  report.  As  this  was  the  document 
upon  which  both  Assemblies  agreed  in  their  final  action 
upon  Reunion,  it  is  here  inserted  entire,  that  it  may  be 
conveniently  compared  with  preceding  reports  on  the 
same  subject.  It  was  signed  individually  by  eveiy 
member  of  both  committees. 


Old    School:    Rev.    Drs.    Musgrave,    A.    G.   Hall, 


Atwater,  Lord,  Wilson. 
cis,  Grier,  Day. 


Messrs.  Carter,  Drake,  Fran- 


G.  W.  Musgravo,  D.D. 


E.  W.  Patterson,  D.D. 


New  School:  Rev.  Drs.  Adams,  Stearns,  Patterson, 
Fisher,  Shaw.  Messrs.  Strong,  Haines,  Dodge,  Far- 
rand,  Knight. 


31 


482  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 


I.  —  Plan  op  Reunion  op  the  Presbyterian  Citdrch  m  thh 
United  States  of  America. 

Believing  that  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  woiild  be  pronioted 
by  the  healing  of  our  divisions,  and  that  the  two  bodies  bearing  the  same 
names,  having  the  same  Constitution,  and  each  recognizing  the  other  as  a 
sound  and  orthodox  body  according  to  the  principles  of  the  Confession  com- 
mon to  both,  cannot  be  justified  by  any  but  the  most  imperative  reasons  in 
maintaining  separate  and,  in  some  respects,  rival  organizations ;  we  are  npw 
clearly  of  the  opinion  that  the  reunion  of  those  bodies  ought,  as  soon  as  the 
necessary  steps  can  be  taken,  to  be  accomplished,  upon  the  basis  hereinafter 
set  forth. 

1.  The  Presbyterian  Churches  in  the  United  States  of  America,  namely, 
that  whose  General  Assembly  convened  in  the  Brick  Church  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  on  the  20th  day  of  May,  1869,  and  that  whose  General  Assembly 
met  in  the  Church  of  the  Covenant  in  the  said  city  on  the  same  day,  shall  be 
reunited  as  one  Church,  under  the  name  and  style  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  possessing  aU  the  legal  and  corpor- 
ate rights  and  powers  pertaining  to  the  Church  previous  to  the  division  in 
1838,  and  aU  the  legal  and  corporate  rights  and  powers  which  the  separate 
churches  now  possess. 

2.  The  reunion  shaU  be  effected  on  the  doctrinal  and  ecclesiastical  basis 
of  our  common  Standards ;  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments 
shall  be  acknowledged  to  be  the  inspired  word  of  God,  and  the  only  infallible 
rule  of  faith  and  practice ;  the  Confession  of  Faith  shall  continue  to  be  sin- 
cerely received  and  adopted  as  containing  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures ;  and  the  government  and  discipline  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  shall  be  approved  as  containing  the  principles 
and  rules  of  our  polity. 

3.  Each  of  the  said  Assemblies  shall  submit  the  foregoing  basis  to  its  pres- 
byteries, which  shall  be  required  to  meet  on  or  before  the  15th  day  of  Octo- 
ber, 18G9,  to  express  their  approval  or  disapproval  of  the  same,  by  a  categor- 
ical answer  to  the  following  question : 

Do  you  approve  of  the  reunion  of  the  two  bodies  now  claiming  the  name 
and  rights  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  on 
the  following  basis,  namely :  ' '  The  reunion  shall  be  effected  on  the  doctrinal 
and  ecclesiastical  basis  of  our  common  Standards ;  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testaments  shall  be  acknowledged  to  be  the  inspired  word  of  God, 
aiid  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice ;  the  Confession  of  Faith 
shall  continue  to  be  sincerely  received  and  adopted  as  containing  the  system 
of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures;  and  the  Government  and  Disci- 
pline of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  shall  be  approved  as 
containing  the  principles  and  rules  of  our  polity  "  ? 

Each  Presbytery  shall,  before  the  first  day  of  November,  1869,  forward  to 


THE    REUNION".  488 

the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly  with  which  it  is  connected,  a 
statement  of  its  vote  on  the  said  Basis  of  Reunion. 

4.  The  said  General  Assemblies  now  sitting  shall,  after  finishing  their 
business,  adjourn,  to  meet  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  on  the 
second  Wednesday  of  November,  1869,  at  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M. 

If  the  two  General  Assemblies  shall  then  find  and  declare  that  the  above- 
named  Basis  of  Reunion  has  been  approved  by  two  thirds  of  the  Presbyteries 
connected  with  each  branch  of  the  church,  then  the  same  shall  be  of  binding 
force,  and  the  two  Assemblies  shaU  take  action  accordingly. 

5.  The  said  General  Assemblies  shall  then  and  there  make  provision  for 
the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  united  church  on  the  third 
Thursday  of  May,  1870.  The  Moderators  of  the  two  present  Assembhes 
shall  jointly  preside  at  the  said  Assembly  of  1870,  until  another  Moderator  is 
chosen.  The  Moderator  of  the  Assembly  now  sitting  at  the  Brick  Church 
aforesaid  shall,  if  present,  put  all  votes  and  decide  questions  of  order ;  and 
the  Moderator  of  the  other  Assembly  shall,  if  present,  preach  the  opening 
sermon ;  and  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the  present  Assemblies  shall  act  as  Stated 
Clerks  of  the  Assembly  of  the  united  church,  until  a  Stated  Clerk  or  Clerks 
shall  have  been  chosen  thereby ;  and  no  Commissioner  shaU  have  a  right  to 
vote  or  deliberate  in  said  Assembly  until  his  name  shall  have  been  enrolled  by 
the  said  Clerks,  and  his  commission  examined  and  filed  among  the  papers  of 
the  Assembly. 

6.  Each  Presbytery  of  the  separate  churches  shaU  be  entitled  to  the  same 
representation  in  the  Assembly  of  the  united  church  in  1870,  as  it  is  entitled 
to  in  the  Assembly  with  which  it  is  now  connected. 

II.  —  Concurrent  Declarations  of  the  General  Assemblies  of  1869. 

As  there  are  matters  pertaining  to  the  interests  of  the  Church,  when  it 
shall  have  become  reunited,  which  wiU  manifestly  require  adjustment  on  the 
coming  together  of  two  bodies  which  have  so  long  acted  separately,  and  con- 
cerning some  of  which  matters  it  is  highly  desirable  that  there  should  be  a 
previous  good  understanding,  the  two  Assembhes  agree  to  adopt  the  follow- 
ing declarations,  not  as  articles  of  compact  or  covenant,  but  as  in  their  judg- 
ment proper  and  equitable  arrangenaents,  to  wit : 

1.  AH  the  ministers  and  churches  embraced  in  the  two  bodies  should  be 
admitted  to  the  same  standing  in  the  united  body,  which  they  may  have 
held  in  their  respective  connections,  up  to  the  consummation  of  the  imion. 

2.  Imperfectly  organized  churches  are  counselled  and  expected  to  become 
thoroughly  Presbyterian,  as  early  within  the  period  of  five  years  as  may  be 
permitted  by  the  highest  iaterests  to  be  consulted;  and  no  other  such 
churches  shall  be  hereafter  received. 

3.  The  botmdaries  of  the  several  Presbyteries  and  Synods  should  be  ad- 
justed by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  united  church. 


484  PKESBYTERIATT    CHURCH. 

4  The  official  records  of  the  two  branches  of  the  church  for  the  period  of 
separation  should  be  preserved  and  held  as  making  up  the  one  history  of  the 
church ;  and  no  rule  or  precedent  which  does  not  stand  approved  by  both  the 
bodies,  should  be  of  any  authority  until  re-established  in  the  imited  body, 
except  in  so  far  as  such  rule  or  precedent  may  affect  the  rights  of  property 
founded  thereon. 

5.  The  corporate  rights  now  held  by  the  two  General  Assemblies,  and  by 
their  Boards  and  Committees,  should,  as  far  as  practicable,  be  consolidated, 
and  applied  for  their  several  objects,  as  defined  by  law. 

6.  There  should  be  one  set  of  Committees  or  Boards  for  Home  and  For- 
eign Missions,  and  the  other  religious  enterprises  of  the  church ;  which  the 
chiu-ches  should  be  encouraged  to  sustain,  though  free  to  cast  their  contribu- 
tions into  other  channels  if  they  desire  to  do  so. 

7.  As  soon  as  practicable  after  the  union  shall  have  been  effected,  the 
General  Assembly  should  reconstruct  and  consoUdate  the  several  Permanent 
Committees  and  Boards  which  now  belong  to  the  two  Assemblies,  so  as  to 
represent,  as  far  as  possible  with  impartiality,  the  views  and  wishes  of  the 
two  bodies  constituting  the  united  church. 

8.  The  publications  of  the  Board  of  Publication  and  of  the  Publication 
Committee  should  continue  to  be  issued  as  at  present,  leaving  it  to  the  Board 
of  Publication  of  the  united  church  to  revise  these  issues  and  perfect  a  cata- 
logue for  the  united  church  so  as  to  exclude  invidious  references  to  past  con- 
troversies. 

9.  In  order  to  a  tmiform  system  of  ecclesiastical  supervision,  those  Theo- 
logical Seminaries  that  are  now  under  Assembly  control  may,  if  their  Boards 
of  Direction  6o  elect,  be  transferred  to  the  watch  and  care  of  one  or  more  of 
the  adjacent  Synods;  and  the  other  Seminaries  are  advised  to  introduce,  as 
far  as  may  be,  into  their  Constitutions,  the  principle  of  Synodical  or  Assem- 
bly supervision ;  in  which  case  they  shall  be  entitled  to  an  official  recognition 
and  approbation  on  the  part  of  the  General  Assembly. 

10.  It  should  be  regarded  as  the  duty  of  all  our  judicatories,  ministers, 
and  people  in  the  united  church,  to  study  the  things  which  make  for  peace, 
and  to  guard  against  aU  needless  and  offensive  references  to  the  causes  that 
have  divided  us ;  and  in  order  to  avoid  the  revival  of  past  issues  by  the  con- 
tinuance of  any  usage  in  either  branch  of  the  church,  that  has  grown  out  of 
former  conflicts,  it  is  earnestly  recommended  to  the  lower  judicatories  of  the 
church  that  they  conform  their  practice  in  relation  to  all  such  usages,  as  far 
as  is  consistent  with  their  convictions  of  duty,  to  the  general  custom  of  the 
church  prior  to  the  controversies  that  resulted  in  the  separation. 

III.  —  Recommendation  op  a  Day  of  Prater. 

That  the  counsels  of  Infinite  Wisdom  may  guide  our  decisions,  and  the 
blessing  of  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  rest  upon  the  result  of  our  efforts 


THE    REUNION.  485 

for  Reunion,  it  is  earnestly  recommended  to  the  churches  throughout  both 
branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  that  they  observe  the  second  Sabbath 
in  September,  1869,  as  a  day  of  fervent  and  vmited  prayer  to  Almighty  God, 
that  he  would  grant  unto  us  all  "the  spirit  of  counsel  and  might,  the  spirit 
of  knowledge  and  of  the  fear  of  the  Lord,"  and  ia  the  new  relations  now 
contemplated,  enable  us  to  "  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bonds  of 


The  chief  points  of  drfference  between  this  document 
and  the  Eeport  of  1868,  it  will  be  seen,  are  these : 

It  distinguishes  several  things  which  before  had  been 
confounded  in  popular  apprehension.  It  does  not  pro- 
pose a  new  Basis  for  Eeunion.  The  first  EejDort,  of  the 
first  Joint  Committee  recommended  that  the  "  Reunion 
shall  be  effected  on  the  doctrinal  and  ecclesiastical 
basis  of  our  common  standards."  No  other  basis  was 
ever  thought  of  by  any.  But  this  basis,  in  the  first 
instance,  was  accompanied  by  certain  terms  relating  to 
cognate  subjects,  such  as  in  the  circumstances  were 
thought  to  be  necessary  to  bring  about  a  good  under- 
standing. These  terms  had  been  confounded  in  many 
minds  mth  the  Basis  itself.  This  appeared  from  the 
manner  in  which  the  different  Presbyteries  took  action 
on  the  overture.  In  the  new  and  last  Report,  to  prevent 
all  confusion,  these  several  matters  are  carefully  distin- 
guished. The  Basis  stands  by  itself.  It  is  so  fi-amed 
that  the  Presbyteries  were  requii'ed  to  render  a  cate- 
gorical answer  to  the  question  whether  it  should  be 
approved  or  disapproved. 

But  inasmuch  as  it  was  not  only  desu*able  but  abso- 
lutely necessary  that  some  good  understanding  should 
be  established  between  Bodies  so  long  separated,  those 
matters  which  in  previous  reports  had  been  con^ituent 
parts  of  the  compact  and  terms  of  covenant  are  here 


486  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

put  into  the  form  of  "  concurrent  declarations^^''  as  being 
of  equal  force  and  value  with  men  of  Christian  confi- 
dence and  honor. 

Previous  conferences,  debates,  and  articles  had  accom- 
plished their  needful  service.  In  regard  to  the  doctrinal 
article,  it  was  no  more  necessary  that  any  explanatory 
clause  designed  to  represent  either  side,  should  be  intro- 
duced. The  old  qualifications  —  excellent  in  their  time 
and  place  —  "  as  it  is  accepted  by  the  two  bodies,"  "  as 
it  is  now  maintained  in  the  two  bodies,"  "  as  they  have 
hitherto  been  allowed  in  the  separate  churches " —  are 
all  dropped,  and  in  their  place  a  better  expression  is  in- 
troduced into  the  preamble  —  satisfactory  to  all,  "  Each 
Recognizing  the  Other  as  a  Sound  and  Orthodox 
Body."  Thus  it  appeared  as  the  result  of  the  way  in 
which  God  had  led  us,  thi-ough  all  conferences  and 
debates,  that  entire  confidence  between  the  negotiating 
bodies  had  been  reached,  and  so  the  Reunion  was  cou- 
siunmated. 

The  scenes  which  occurred,  in  both  Assemblies,  when 
the  final  vote  was  taken  upon  the  Report  of  the  Com- 
mittee, were  such  as  occur  only  once  in  a  lifetime.  As 
these  belong  to  a  subsequent  chapter  of  the  volume 
descriptive  of  the  Assemblies  in  New  York  and  Pitts- 
bm"g,  to  be  written  by  their  respective  Moderators,  they 
will  not  be  anticipated. 

The  writer  of  this  chapter,  a  member  of  the  Joint 
Committee  from  the  beginning,  in  1866,  cannot  lay  do^vn 
his  pen  without  making  record  of  his  conviction  that 
the  whole  movement  has  been  under  the  guidance  of 
the  great  Head  of  the  Chm*ch.  The  work  of  healing 
what  was  broken,  of  uniting  what  was  sundered,  ^vas 


*  THE   EEUNION.  487 

divine.  No  man,  no  set  of  men,  can  take  to  themselves 
the  credit  of  its  success.  Oftentimes  faith  faltered 
and  the  issue  seemed  most  dubious.  But  difficulties  at 
the  critical  moment  disappeared,  and  discomfitures  and 
delays  were  overruled  for  good.  The  faces  of  good 
men,  alive  when  the  movement  began,  but  translated 
before  it  was  complete,  —  Brainerd,  Krebs,  Gurley, 
Brown,  —  smile  on  theii'  surviving  associates  who  have 
seen  its  consummation.  To  mention  the  services  ren- 
dered by  individual  members  of  the  Committee  now 
living  or  dead,  would  be  invidious.  Each  contributed 
his  part ;  and  some,  representing  different  sections  and 
interests  of  oui*  extended  country  and  of  our  beloved 
Church,  exhibited  a  degree  of  wisdom  and  faith,  firm- 
ness and  charity,  discernment  and  skill,  which  will  never 
be  forgotten  by  theii*  associates. 

May  the  futui'e  of  oui*  history  furnish  proof  that  the 
whole  movement  is  approved  of  God,  and  tends  to  the 
augmented  usefulness  of  the  Chm-ch,  the  good  of  our 
native  laud,  and  the  advancement  of  the  Kingdom  of 
our  Lord  throughout  the  world. 

[Since  the  time  when  these  eloquent  words  were  pen- 
ned, this  prayer  has  become  a  prophecy.  The  Presby- 
terian Church,  consolidated  by  the  Reunion,  has  gathered 
strength  and  power  for  every  department  of  its  Divinely 
appointed  work  in  this  and  in  other  lands.  Many  revi- 
vals of  religion  have  taken  place,  the  Theological  Semi- 
naries have  received  numerous  candidates  for  the  minis- 
try, multitudes  of  church  edifices  have  been  erected  on 
the  frontier,  and  missionaries  in  increased  numbers  have 


488  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  ♦ 

gone  forth  to  sow  beside  all  waters.  No  regrets  have 
been  expressed  that  the  union  was  completed,  but  from 
every  portion  of  our  country  and  of  Christendom  there 
have  been  heard  congratulations  and  thanksgivings 
because  of  its  rich,  beneficent  fruits. 

Nor  woilld  it  be  beyond  probability  if  this  happy 
consummation  should  encourage  and  stimulate  other 
churches,  near  allied  in  doctrine,  order,  and  worship,  to 
join  hands  and  hearts,  and  to  unite  together  in  similar 
bands  of  affection  and  Christian  fraternity.  May  such 
ever  continue  to  be  the  glad  and  gracious  results  of 
THE  REUNION  SO  fitly  commemoratcd  in  the  preceding 
pages.     Ed.] 


V&^AsVviN-V^^^ 


^l-^^- 


BRICK  CHURCH,   KEW  YORK. 


CHAPTEK  XIV. 

THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869. 

It  lias  been  truly  said  that  "  the  meetings  of  the  Old 
and  New  School  General  Assemblies  of  1869,  almost 
within  speaking  distance,  on  Murray  Hill,  New  York, 
will  be  memorable  so  long  as  the  Presbyterian  Church 
lives  in  this  country  or  the  world." 

Eepresentative  bodies  of  Christ's  ministers,  having 
the  same  historic  name  and  polity,  ^vere  convened  in 
the  spirit  of  concord,  and  were  yearning,  though  long 
alienated,  to  become  again  one. 

The  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Chui'ch 
in  the  United  States  of  America  had  now  attained  its 
fourscore  years.  It  had  reached  this  age  "  by  reason 
of  strength,"  and  so  far  fi-om  the  "  strength  "  being 
"  labor  and  sorrow,"  the  labor  and  sorrow  had  become 
the  strength.  The  movement  now  happily  culminating 
and  traced  through  a  history  of  strife  and  tears,  stands 
without  a  parallel  in  the  annals  of  the  Christian 
Church.  That  bodies  formerly  one  household,  but  long 
time  sundered  by  great  questions  of  doctrine  and 
polity,  with  all  the  animosities  and  jealousies  spring- 
ing out  of  such  a  disruption,  should  become  one  again,' 
after  a  generation  of  separate,  and  often  of  rival  action 
■ — this  was  the  marvel!  But  just  because  the  divi- 
sion had  lasted  through  a  generation,  it  was  all  the  more 


492  PRESBYTERIAN    CIIURCH. 

a  time  for  Reunion,  when  most  of  the  men,  left  on 
the  field,  had  not  been  personally  involved  in  the  act 
of  separation.  It  was  also  because  there  was  vitality 
in  the  parts  that  there  was  the  element  of  healing :  Or 
rather,  because  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  had  breathed 
upon  the  scattered  limbs,  that  they  came  together 
again,  bone  to  his  bone,  in  all  the  plain. 

The  event,  considered  in  all  its  bearings,  is  so  signal 
and  so  significant  as  to  seem  to  be  a  great  first  chapter 
in  that  Johannean  development  for  which  the  Church 
looks  and  waits  —  the  age  of  Christian  concord  and 
love,  iu  all  the  body  of  Christ.  It  is  notable  that  the 
generation  which  had  been  passed  in  division,  and  to 
some  extent  also  in  dissension,  had  wrought  silent  and 
steady  results  towards  conciliation.  Each  body,  claim- 
ing, on  whatever  ground,  to  be  "  The  General  Assembly 
of  the  Presbyterian  Chm-ch  in  the  United  States  of 
America,"  —  what  wonder  if  each  was,  all  the  while, 
the  rather  intent  on  making  good  its  claim  in  the  eye 
of  the  world  ?  Besides,  the  lessons  of  the  strife  had 
been  put  to  account,  to  the  end  of  correcting  what  was 
amiss.  So  that,  at  this  period,  the  respective  parts 
were  found,  by  all  confession,  in  great  degree,  homoge- 
neous, as  they  were  not  at  the  division  —  thus  always 
tending  towards  each  other,  i-ather  than  apai't.  The 
Congregational  element,  introduced  by  "The  Plan  of 
Union"  of  1801,  had,  in  large  measure,  occasioned  the 
outbreak  of  1837;  and  the  question  was  whether  the 
disruption  would  work  in  that  direction,  as  to  doctrine 
and  polity,  or  in  the  line  of  reaction  towards  the  old 
paths.  It  was  just  the  steadfast  adherence  to  the  Pres- 
byterian faith  and  order  in  the  mass,  that  came,  at 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  493 

length,  to  demand  a  Keunion  of  the  respective  parts, 
when  the  reconsideration  and  adjustment,  on  either 
side,  had  so  diminished  the  differences.  Every  lover  of 
the  Church  felt  that  there  was  a  great  sacrifice  of 
Church  power  by  such  separate  operation,  which  could 
be  justified  no  longer  when  essential  divergence  was  at 
an  end. 

Different  views,  it  is  true,  were  all  along  taken  of 
the  situation.  And  some  on  both  sides,  who  had  been 
opposed  to  the  disruption,  were  now  as  conscientiously 
opposed  to  the  Reunion.  But  it  was  just  the  question 
whether  the  grand  inner  forces  of  a  true  Presbyterian- 
ism  were  not  steadily  working  towards  a  homogeneity 
which  would  warrant  a  reuniting  of  the  sundered  but 
affiliated  parts,  and  whether  the  time  had  not  even  now 
come  for  the  Reunion.  True,  it  could  be  claimed  that 
the  signal  thrift  and  success  of  the  two  branches,  in 
their  separation,  were  such  as  to  justif}-  the  separate 
organizations,  and  that  a  healthful  competition  had 
been  even  an  element  of  success  fully  warranting  a 
longer  continuance  apart;  but  such  a  view  is  quite  too 
secular,  and  overlooks  the  higher  demands  for  the  one- 
ness of  the  Church  of  Christ  by  all  legitimate  means. 

But  peril  to  Scriptural  doctrine  was  the  stronger 
point  made  by  not  a  few,  and  that  on  either  side. 

Though  at  the  disruption  the  formal  question  was 
a  constitutional  one,  — a  question  of  Chui'ch  polity 
rather  than  of  creed,  — and  though,  as  to  doctrine,  the 
separating  portion  had  then  formally  protested  their 
orthodoxy,  and  some  of  the  highest  authorities  in  the 
exscinding  body  were  so  agreed,  and  maintained  that 
the  divergence  was  not  such  as  to  infer  separation,  yet, 


494  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

all  along,  a  zeal  for  the  truth,  as  set  forth  in  our  Cal 
vinistic  system,  led  many  in  the  Old  School  branch  to 
dissent,  or  greatly  to  hesitate  as  to  the  Heunion.  But 
actual  uniformity  is  not  pretended  in  either  body ;  and 
the  degree  of  divergence  can  only  be  measured  and  ad- 
judged, in  individual  cases,  according  to  the  rules  of 
the  Church,  as  plainly  provided.  If  freedom  of  pri- 
vate judgment  has  most  asserted  itself  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian family,  to  the  extent  of  schism,  for  what  has 
seemed  the  truth's  sake,  yet  who  shall  deny  that  the 
truth  of  God  has  its  most  noble  and  Biblical  definition 
and  exposition  in  our  cherished  Westminster  formulas 
of  faith,  which  are  the  common  family  heritage  ?  And, 
what  wonder,  if  with  these  in  hand,  and  claimed 
equally  by  both,  the  distinctive  truth  they  set  forth 
should  dispose  and  draw  together  the  living  j^arts  as 
essentially  one  in  the  vital  doctrines  of  salvation? 
But  the  facts  and  auguries,  in  the  case,  were  inter- 
preted differently.  As  in  the  proverb  of  the  red  shy^ 
it  is  a  sign  of  storm  or  of  sunshine,  according  as  it  is 
seen  at  dawn  or  at  evening;  so  the  same  facts  were 
tokens  of  conflict  or  of  concord,  according  as  they  were 
viewed. 

And  according  as  acknowledged  differences  are  max- 
imized or  minimized,  must  be  the  judgment  and  action 
in  the  case  before  us. 

At  a  time  when  Anti-Christ,  in  all  the  forms  of 
papacy  and  infidelity,  rallies  the  strongest  forces,  and 
displays  a  solid  front  against  the  Holy  Child  Jesus, 
and  His  true  Church ;  and  when  the  exigencies  of  our 
time  are  so  alarming,  it  must  be  accounted  as,  at  least, 
a  Cliristian  sentiment,  even  though  it  were  a  practical 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  495 

mistake,  tliat  these  great  bodies,  one  in  confession  of 
faith  and  form  of  government  —  one  in  tlieir  mode  of 
organization  and  of  operation,  and  one  aforetime,  witli 
a  common  ancestry  and  history  —  should  be  again  or- 
ganically one,  for  most  effective  action.  For  here,  in 
the  Divine  arithmetic,  it  is  most  plain  that  one  is 
more  and  better  than  tioo, 

A  brief  review  of  the  antecedents  will  prepare  us  bet- 
ter to  estimate  the  status  of  1869,  and  the  constituent 
elements  of  this  Assembly. 

There  were  mainly,  from  the  first,  ybz^r  classes  in  the 
Church  on  this  great  question  of  Reunion.  Some  were 
in  favor  of  it,  most  positively,  and  by  all  lawful  means. 
Others,  a  decreasing  few,  were  as  positively  opposed  to 
it,  by  all  means,  on  the  ground  of  essential  differences 
believed  to  exist  in  doctrine  and  order.'  A  larger  num 
ber,  early  averse,  then  dubious  and  distrustful,  were,  at 
length,  desirous  of  its  accomplishment  so  soon  as  the 
constitutional  tei-ms  could  be  carried.  And  others,  a 
few,  were  at  the  first  opposed,  and  at  length  only  ready 
to  acquiesce  in  what  was  seen  to  be  inevitable,  yet  all 
the  while  insisting  on  the  safest  and  best  terms. 

In  1866,  both  Assemblies  having  met  in  the  same 
city  of  St.  Louis,  the  first  formal  initiative  was  taken  by 
the  Old  School  body.  They  proposed  the  naked  basis 
of  "  our  common  standards,^''  and  expressed  "  an  earnest 
desire  for  the  Reunion^  at  the  earliest  time  consistent 
with  agreement  in  doctrine^  order ^  and  ])olity^  and  the 
'prevalence  of  mutual  confidence  and  love,  which  are 
necessary  to  a  happy  union,  and  to  the  permanent 
peace  and  prosperity  of  the  -Church." 


496  PEESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

The  other  branch  emphasized  the  terms,  "  on  tlie  comr 
7non  standards^  received  in  a  common  spirif'' 

A  Committee  of  fifteen^  from  each  Assembly,  was 
then  appointed,  to  di'aw  up  a  plan  of  Reunion^  and 
report  to  the  Assemblies  of  1867.  This  was  accord 
ingly  done. 

But  there  was  not  yet  the "  mutual  confidence^ 
There  were  many  and  deep  misgivings  as  to  the  sense  in 
which  the  two  branches  understood  and  held  the  "  Com- 
mon Standards."  x\n  attempt  was,  therefore,  made  by 
the  Joint  Committee  to  fix  the  sense,  so  as  to  forbid  any 
misconception  or  divergence.  This  restrictive  move- 
ment was  fi'om  the  Old  School  side  of  the  Committee. 
And,  according  to  the  very  unanimous  Report,  it  was 
expressly  provided  in  the  Doctrinal  article  of  the  Basis 
that  the  sense  in  which  the  Confession  was  to  be  re- 
ceived, should  be  ^''itsfair^  historical  sense,  as  it  is  ac- 
cepted by  the  two  bodies  in  opposition  to  Antinomian- 
ism.  and  Fatcdism  on  one  hand,  and  to  Arminianism 
and  Felagianism  on  the  others 

Besides  the  Doctrinal  Ai'ticle,  there  were  thirteen 
items  pertaining  to  various  matters  of  church  polity. 
These  were  proposed  as  points  for  agreement.  And  as 
to  certain  of  these,  there  was  much  division  of  sentiment 
in  both  bodies. 

The  Report  was,  however,  adopted  in  the  New  School 
Assembly  with  entire  unanimity.  But  in  the  Old  School 
body,  a  Minority  Report  of  a  Special  Committee  to 
whom  it  was  referred,  asked  the  Assembly  to  instruct 
the  Joint  Committee  in  three  several  particulars,  viz., 
"To  obtain,  (1.)  A  more  definite  statement  of  the  Doc- 
trinal Basis.     (2.)  The  exclusion  of  '  Committee-men  ' 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  497 

from  tlie  Cliurcli  Courts.  And  (3.)  Tlie  distinct  and 
formal  recognition  of  tlie  right  and  obligation  of  every 
Presbytery  to  be  satisfied  as  to  tlie  soundness  of  every 
minister  it  receives."  This  Minority  Report  obtained 
(64)  sixty-four  votes,  against  (152)  one  hundred  and 
ffty-two.  But  the  Assembly  "  declined  to  express  either 
approbation  or  disapprobation  of  the  plan  in  detail," 
and  meanwhile  "  recognized  with  satisfaction  the  finger 
of  God  as  pointing  towards  an  early  and  cordial  Reunion 
of  the  two  sister  Churches  now  so  long  separated." 

This  Basis,  though  not  formerly  overtui*ed  to  the  Pres- 
byteries, was  sent  down  for  discussion  and  fi*ee  expres- 
sion. Already  it  was  pronounced  loose  in  terms,  and 
capable  of  very  different  constructions,  according  as  it 
was  read  with,  or  without,  a  comma  after  the  word 
"  bodies^  And  when  it  was  discussed  and  voted  upon 
in  the  Old  School  Presbyteries,  it  was  very  generally 
disapproved,  as  more  indefinite  by  far  than  the  Stan- 
dards which  it  would  seek  to  define.  The  question  was 
sharply  discussed,  especially  by  Dr.  C.  Hodge  and  Dr. 
H.  B.  Smith,  in  their  respective  Reviews  for  the  year, 
the  former  charging  upon  the  New  School  a  loose  sub- 
scrij^tion  to  the  Standards  —  the  latter  positively  deny- 
ing this,  and  challenging  the  proof,  asserting,  "  that  the 
sense  in  which  the  New  School  receive  and  adopt  the 
Confession  is  precisely  the  same  with  that  claimed  by 
Dr.  Hodge  as  the  true  sense,  viz.^  the  Calvinistic  or 
Reformed." 

Professor  Smith,  in  1864,  as  retiring  Moderator  of  his 
Assembly  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  had  suggested,  as  the  terms 
of  Reunion,  "  the  simple  Basis  of  the  Standards,  which 
we  equally  accept  [he  said]  without  private  interpre- 


498  PEESBYIERIAN    CIIURCH. 

tation,  interpreted  in  their  legitimate  and  historic  sense, 
in  the  spirit  of  the  Adopting  Act,  and  as  containing 
the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures." 

In  November,  of  1867,  "  the  Presbyterian  National 
Union  Convention  "  assembled  in  Philadelphia.  In  the 
course  of  their  proceedings,  Professor  Smith  moved 
this  defining  clause  in  the  platform  for  the  union  of  all 
Presbyterians,  viz. :  "  It  being  understood  that  this  Con- 
fession is  received  in  its  proper  historical,  that  is,  the 
Calvinistic  or  Reformed  sense."  This  was  found  to  be 
eminently  satisfactory  to  the  most  conservative  of  the 
delegates  present.  The  Joint  Committee,  accordingly, 
in  their  Report  to  the  Assemblies  of  1868,  modified  the 
Doctrinal  Article  of  the  Basis,  incorporating  the  Smith 
clause,  instead  of  the  defining  clause  of  the  previous 
Report,  and  after  much  discussion  adding  what  is  known 
as  "  the  Gurley  amendmentj^  viz.,  "  It  is  also  understood 
that  various  methods  of  viewing,  stating,  explaining,  and 
illustrating  the  doctrines  of  the  Confession,  which  do 
not  impair  the  integrity  of  the  Reformed  or  Calvinistic 
system,  are  to  be  freely  allowed  in  the  United  Church, 
as  they  have  hitherto  been  allowed  in  the  separate 
churches." 

There  seemed  here,  in  the  Doctrinal  Article,  to  be  a 
balancing  of  cautious  clauses,  which  savored  of  Ecclesi- 
astical diplomacy. 

The  Gurley  clause,  as  was  well  understood,  had  been 
interposed  at  a  serious  exigency  of  the  negotiations,  as 
an  offset  to  the  former  defining  clause.  In  itself,  it 
would  appear  to  be  quite  legitimate,  as  calling  for  no  lib- 
erty beyond  what  was  "  consistent  with  the  integrity  of 
the  Calvinistic  system."    Yet  the  proviso  for  such  an 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  490 

aEowance  in  the  United  Cliurcli,  as  had  been  hitherto 
used  in  the  separate  churches,  as  to  variety  of  viewing^ 
stating,  etc.,  was  open  to  weighty  objection,  as  seeming 
to  contradict  itself,  and  to  imply  already  some  misun- 
derstanding, and  to  threaten  most  serious  altercation  in 
the  future.  There  were  also  certain  modifications  of 
the  subordinate  items.  Besides,  the  famous  Tenth  Arti- 
cle was  added,  as  called  for  by  the  Minority  Eeport 
of  1867,  so  far  as  acknowledging  the  right  of  Presby- 
teries to  examine  ministers  coming  from  other  Presby- 
teries, but  not  making  it  a  "  ditty^^  and  imperative,  as 
had  been  the  case  in  the  Old  School  branch. 

Hence,  though  both  of  the  Assemblies  of  1868  adopt- 
ed the  Basis,  and  sent  it  down  to  the  Presbyteries  for 
formal  action,  yet  it  was  evidently  with  great  mis- 
giving in  the  Old  School,  and  with  much  dissatisfaction 
upon  second  thought. 

It  was  earnestly  opposed  in  the  Assembly,  and  a 
weighty  minority  uttered  a  strong  protest  against  it. 
This  was  pointedly  answered  by  a  Committee,  of  which 
Professor  Shedd  was  the  Chairman.  Ground  was 
taken,  in  this  reply,  that  "to  suppose  the  objectionable 
clause  provided  for  Arminianism  and  Pelagianism 
within  the  sphere  of  Calvinism,  was  an  absui'dity  not  to 
be  named  in  such  case." 

Nevertheless,  there  was  such  dissatisfaction  in  the 
Assembly,  that  it  was  sought  to  break  the  force  of  this 
Basis,  after  it  was  passed  upon.  It  was  unanimously 
voted,  on  motion  of  Dr.  A.  G.  Hall,  as  a  measure  of 
conciliation,  "  that  this  Assembly  hereby  declare  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  the  Doctrinal  Ai-ticle  of  the 
Basis,  already  adopted,  is  not  to  be  interpreted  as  giv- 


500  PRESBYTERIAIS-    CHURCH. 

ing  license  to  the  propagation  of  doctrines  whicli  Lave 
been  condemned  by  either  Assembly,  nor  to  permit  any 
Presbytery  in  the  United  Church  to  license,  or  ordain 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  any  candidate  who  main- 
tains any  form  of  doctrine  condemned  by  either  As- 
sembly." 

This  action  was  immediately  telegraphed  to  the  other 
Assembly  at  Harrisbui'g.  Besides  this,  a  special  dele- 
gation was  sent  to  the  New  School  Assembly,  to  request 
an  alteration  of  the  Basis,  so  as  to  strike  out  both  of  the 
amending  clauses  in  the  Doctrinal  Article,  and  so  as  to 
leave  ^''the  Common  Sta7idard8 'pure  and  simple,"  for  the 
platform  of  doctrine.  This  action,  however,  proved  to 
be  too  late.  Though  it  was  well  received  by  those  yet 
present  at  Harrisbui'g,  the  house  was  too  much  thinned, 
at  this  last  moment,  to  take  formal  action  upon  it,  there 
being,  in  fact,  no  quo7'um  remaining.  And,  as  it  was 
only  in  the  event  of  its  adoption  by  the  Harrisburg 
Assembly  that  this  alteration  was  to  be  made  in  the 
plan,  the  result  served  merely  to  indicate  the  mind  of 
the  two  bodies  on  this  important  point. 

It  was  in  this  aspect  of  ai/e  and  nay,  pro  and  C07i,  that 
the  Assembly  of  1868  left  the  question  of  Beunion,  No 
wonder  that  the  Church  was  puzzled  to  understand  the 
exact  status.  In  such  tanglement  of  terms,  a  plan  hav- 
ing been  passed  upon,  and  sent  do^vn,  and  then  closely 
followed  uj)  by  a  unanimous  caveat,  as  to  the  meaning. 
and  after  that,  by  an  expressed  preference  for  an  impor- 
tant change  in  the  plan,  no  wonder  that  the  Presby- 
teries scarcely  understood  what  they  were  to  vote  upon. 

It  was  in  such  category  that  "  The  Fittshnrg  Clrcu- 
la/r  "  was  issued,  soon  after  the  adjournment.     It  pro- 


THE    ASSEMBLES    OF    1869.  501 

posed,  unofficially,  tlie  Standards  pure  and  simple,  as 
the  Doctrinal  Basis,  leaving  the  remaining  articles  of 
agreement  to  stand  as  last  reported.  This  was  first 
proposed  by  Dr.  James  Allison  in  the  Banner.  It  took 
shape  and  execution  at  a  conference  of  Drs.  Allison, 
Paxton,  A.  A.  Hodge,  and  Jacobus.  This  was  meant, 
not  by  any  means  to  balk  the  Eeunion  movement,  but 
to  set  up  a  banner  for  the  distracted  ranks.  It  was 
more  than  ever  manifest,  however  awkwardly  brought 
about,  that  the  Reunited  Chui^ch  could  stand  only  on 
the  naked  Confession,  and  that  the  sense  of  the  Stand- 
ards could  not  be  categorically  defined  in  such  an  instru- 
ment, without  interpolating,  in  such  restrictions  and 
qualifications,  certain  new  terms  additional  to  the  Con- 
fession itself,  which  would  need  to  be  interpreted  as 
much  as  that,  and  would  be  quite  as  liable  to  be  mis- 
construed. In  the  light  of  this  plain  history,  it  will 
appear,  how  disingenuous  is  the  assertion  that  this  was 
equivalent  to  accepting  the  Standards  "  loithout  a  sense,''^ 
and  that  it  was,  in  fact,  an  utter  sui-render  of  the  truth 
in  oui'  Confession,  The  Old  School  Presbyteries  again 
voted,  variously  but  largely,  against  the  Basis  of  the 
Joint  Committee,  at  the  same  time  expressing  their  mll- 
ingness  to  miite  upon  the  platform  of  the  Standards. 
The  Tenth  Article  remained  as  a  chief  difficulty  in  the 
other  branch  ;  yet  they  reported  one  hundred  and  five 
Presbyteries  for  the  Basis,  and  ovUjfoicr  against  it,  with 
four  others  not  heard  from.  Thus  matters  were  gener- 
ally tangled.  Meanwhile  the  Old  School  Conunittee  on 
Reunion  had  been  disbanded.  In  this  juncture,  the  New 
School  Committee  met  in  January,  18G9,  and  recom- 
mended to  their  Presbyteries  to  vote  at  their  spring  meet- 


502  PRESJiYTERIAN    CllUliCII. 

ings  for  omitting  both  of  the  qualif}dng  clauses  of  the 
Doctrinal  Article,  and  also  the  entire  Tenth  Article. 

Such  informal  action,  modifying  the  Basis,  as  over 
tured  to  the  Presbyteries,  could  only  serve  to  express  the 
mind  of  the  Church,  for  the  enlightenment  of  the  ap- 
proaching Assembly. 

And  it  was  by  this  thorough  testing  of  different 
Bases  that  the  Church  was  made  ready,  on  both  hands, 
for  the  true  and  proper  Basis  of  the  Standards. 

A  new  and  striking  phase  was  given  to  the  matter, 
closely  on  the  edge  of  the  Assemblies,  by  the  action  of 
the  Central  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  as  moved  by 
Dr.  Musgrave:  namely,  to  make  the  Basis  consist  of 
but  one  Article,  the  Doctrinal  one,  and  herein  propos- 
ing the  Standards  alone,  leaving  the  other  items  for 
adjustment  by  the  Eeunited  Church. 

This  plan  was  startling,  as  being  perhaps  too  sum- 
mary, and  as  altogether  extra  hazardous. 

Yet,  on  maturer  consideration,  it  was  well  approved. 

This  same  Basis  had  been  moved  in  the  Assembly  of 
1868,  by  Dr.  Musgrave;  but  it  had  failed  of  adoption. 
Yet  this  was  in  fact  coming  back  to  the  starting-point 
of  the  negotiations,  after  so  roundabout  a  course.  This 
was  what  was  contended  for,  and  counselled  in  The 
Princeton  Hevie^v^  after  the  Assembly  of  1868,  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  We  are  willing  to  unite  upon  the  Basis  of  our  Common  Standards,  without 
explanation.  If  they  are  willing  to  take  that  ground,  well  and  good.  If  not, 
the  fault  is  theu-s,  not  ours.  Let  the  rejection  of  '  the  Basis  '  be  followed  by 
a  request,  or  overture,  to  the  next  General  Assembly,  to  negotiate  a  plan  of 
Union  having  for  its  doctrinal  Basis  our  Common  Standards  pure  and  sim- 
ple." —July,  18G8,  pp.  453,  472,  3. 

It  was  made  plain  as  day  that  no  new  Confession 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  503 

would  be  accepted,  nor  any  codicil  to  the  old  document, 
nor  any  well-phrased  ultimatum,  formulated  by  any 
number  of  ecclesiastical  diplomatists,  however  revered 
and  loved.  The  Church  had  already  her  well-accepted, 
time-honored  formulas,  of  which  she  is  so  justly  proud, 
for  their  strict  conformity  with  the  Word  of  God.  And 
she  asked  no  better,  and  would  not  peril  her  own  iden- 
tity by  adopting  any  other,  in  any  shape,  at  this  late 
day.  It  would  have  been  grossly  unjust  to  both  of  the 
high  negotiating  parties.  The  secret  of  such  a  recur- 
rence to  the  original  terms  must  be  sought  in  the  man 
if ested  vanity  of  all  efforts  to  change  them  with  advan- 
tage, and  in  the  further,  better  fact,  that  a  change  had 
come  over  the  Church  in  both  of  its  branches,  bringing 
about  more  of  the  "  mutual  confidence  "  which  was  fore- 
seen as  vitally  conditioning  the  great  problem. 

This  was  the  outlook  of  the  subject,  as  the  time  di'ew 
nigh  for  the  Assemblies  of  1869.  Manifestly  an  influ- 
ence had  gone  forth  meanwhile,  like  the  soft  spring-tide, 
melting  the  mountains  of  ice,  and  dissolving  the  bands 
of  frozen  rivers  as  a  thousand  fires  of  our  kindling 
could  never  have  done.  There  could  be  no  doubt  of 
the  fact,  that  Union  upon  tlie  basis  of  the  Standards 
was  now  the  joint  plan  and  pui'pose,  and  that  each 
party  was  ready  to  challenge  the  other  by  the  same  ori- 
ginal formulas  of  the  Presbyterian  ordination ;  an  ex  an- 
imo  reception,  and  embrace  of  the  Confession.  All  ob- 
jection seemed  thus  to  be  cut  off,  except  in  few  cases, 
on  the  groimd  of  alleged  diversities  not  covered  by  such 
positive  terms,  or  on  the  ground  of  inexpediency  upon 
other  considerations. 

It  was  in  this  condition  of  things  that  the  two  As* 


504  PIlESBYTEllIAN    CHURCH. 

semblies  convened  in  New  York  city,  on  the  20tli  of 
May,  A.  D.  1869. 

Strangely  enough,  on  the  fii'st  day  of  the  session,  de- 
vout men  carried  to  the  buiial  the  Rev.  Absalom  Pe- 
ters, D.D.,  whose  name  had  been  most  prominent  in  con- 
nection mth  the  disruption,  as  the  Secretaiy  of  "  The 
American  Home  Missionary  Society." 

The  two  Assemblies  had  met  here  in  the  great  Me-' 
tropolis,  in  1856.  But  no  high  public  interest  was 
then  excited.  There  was  then,  as  yet,  no  di-aw^Ing  to- 
gether of  the  parts,  but  rather  a  manifest  distance. 
An  overture  was  made  by  the  New  School  Assembly  to 
the  Old  School  for  formal  correspondence ;  but  it  was 
declined.  The  venerable  and  excellent  Dr.  Phillips 
said  on  the  floor  of  the  house,  "  How  can  we  enter  into 
correspondence  with  a  body  which  claims  to  be  our- 
selves ? "  The  hour  had  not  yet  come.  But  now  the 
city  was  moved.  Entertainers  and  outsiders  were  astir. 
The  wires  were  at  work  to  convey  despatches  to  all 
quarters  of  the  world.  The  leading  daily  jomTials,  as 
the  Herald^  and  the  Tribune.,  and  Times.,  and  Post.,  were 
largely  given  up  to  the  proceedings. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  this  Assembly  of  the  Old  School 
branch  was  the  largest  ever  convened  in  the  entire  his- 
tory of  the  Church,  saving  only  that  of  1832,  at  Phila- 
delphia, which  had  seven  more  members  enrolled,  and 
excepting  also  the  Assemblies  of  1859  and  1860,  pend- 
ing the  separation  of  the  Southern  Church.  And  in 
the  other  branch,  the  numbers  were  the  laro:est  since 
the  disruption  in  1837.  And,  what  is  still  more  re- 
markable, tlie  latter  body  lacked  now  only  thirty-six  of 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  505 

being  equal  in  numbers  to  the  former,  indicating  the 
wondei-ful  increase  since  the  disruption. 

A  Joint  Assembly  would  have  numbered  five  hun- 
dred and  fifty  five.  And  it  was  currently  remarked 
that  a  larger  amount  of  ripe  experience,  of  practical 
wisdom,  and  of  sound,  Scriptm'al  knowledge,  together 
with  earnest  loyalty  to  the  Chm-ch,  and  devout  faith 
and  piety,  had  not  at  any  time  been  gathered  in  either 
Assembly.  Civilians  of  eminent  rank  were  among 
the  members  of  both  bodies.  It  is  f  m*ther  notable  that 
among  the  Old  School  commissioners  there  was  not  one 
of  the  original  Keunion  Committee  of  Fifteen,  whilst  on 
the  New  School  floor  there  Widvefive  of  the  leading  clei- 
ical  members  of  that  Committee,  and  one  of  the  most 
eminent  j  mists. 

That  Historic  Chm'ch,  "  the  Old  Brick,"  whose  his- 
toric pastor,  the  venerable  and  beloved  Gardiner  Spring, 
D.D.,  LL.D.,  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  added 
interest  to  the  sittings  of  the  Old  School  branch.  It 
was  the  Church  whose  pastor,  the  Eev.  John  Rodgers, 
D.D.,  was  the  Moderator  of  the  first  General  Assembly, 
fourscore  years  ago,  when  there  were  thirty -four  mem- 
bers in  all ;  and  his  last  official  act  was  to  lay  his  hands, 
in  ordination,  upon  the  head  of  Dr.  Spring,  in  1810,  the 
latter  now  the  senior  pastor  of  the  same  Church,  and  a 
grand  coimecting  link  with  the  first  General  Assembly 
of  the  Chm'ch  in  this  land. 

Only  some  three  or  foui*  blocks  fi'om  this  stately  cor- 
ner of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Thirty-seventh  street,  sat  the 
other  Assembly  (N.  S.),  in  "the  Chm-ch  of  the  Cove- 
nant," corner  of  Thii-ty-fifth  street  and  Park  Avenue. 

The  ph^.asant  contiguity  was  not  more  suggestive  of 


506  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

cordial  intercliange  tlian  it  was  found  to  be  answerable 
to  tlie  friendly  relations  now  existing. 

It  was,  every  way,  a  most  bappy  conception,  tbat  tbe 
formal  sittings  were  prefaced  by  a  Joint  Prayer-Meet- 
ing of  members  and  others,  at  tbe  Brick  Cbm*cb,  on  tbe 
evening  preceding.  Tbe  weatber  was  ill-favored,  witb 
rain  and  cbill,  but  a  large  concoui-se  was  present.  Tbe 
retiring  Moderators,  Drs.  Stearns  and  Musgrave,  pre- 
sided, and,  after  introductory  services,  tbe  meeting  was 
tbrown  open  for  voluntary  exercises  of  prayer,  exhorta- 
tion, and  praise. 

It  bad  been  advised,  as  a  pradential  measure,  tbat  tbe 
exciting  topic  of  Reunion,  in  its  delicate  bearings  at 
tbe  moment,  should  not  be  introduced.  But  it  was  all 
in  vain  to  set  up  barriers  against  tbe  overflowing 
thought  and  emotion.  You  could  as  well  shut  out  tbe 
morning  from  tbe  day,  or  tbe  spring-tide  from  tbe  fields 
and  gardens.  Tbe  first  prayer  referred  to  it,  and  the  first 
speaker  plainly  broached  it,  as  the  topic  of  the  hour.  Ir- 
resistibly, eveiy  exercise  savored  of  this  Reunion  senti- 
ment, and  it  was  seen  to  be  tbe  one  great  thought  and 
feeling  of  the  praying  Assembly.  It  was,  however,  re- 
marked that  the  bretbi-en  of  tbe  New  School  were  more 
retu"ing  and  less  pronomiced  on  that  occasion  than  could 
have  been  expected.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  it  was 
manifest  that  a  veiy  great  change  had  come  over  many 
on  both  sides,  who  had,  up  to  this  time,  been  regarded 
as  opposed  or  reluctant.  It  was  a  first  coming  together 
of  the  brethren  long  time  distant,  and  now  met  at  tbe 
mercy-seat.  The  ointment  be^vrayed  itself.  The  at- 
mosphere was  redolent  of  it.  Families  of  tbe  city  who 
bad  sought  the  spot  as  one  of  promised  privilege,  shared 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  507 

in  the  high  enthusiasm.  The  advent  of  long-expected 
good  was  s'jng  to  the  watching  shepherds  there,  that 
evening,  by  a  chorus  of  the  heavenly  host.  Earnest 
hearts  unburdened  themselves  before  God,  pleading  for 
the  consummation.  No  injudicious  word  was  spoken, 
and  it  was  plain  to  all  that  the  key-note  was  struck, 
and  a  kind  of  Divine  intimation  was  given  in  the  tone 
of  the  meeting  that  the  time  had  come  for  brethren 
whose  souls  flowed  together  so  in  prayer  and  praise  and 
mutual  address,  to  band  together  again  as  one  in  the  grand 
old  Church  of  their  fathers. 

It  soon  became  manifest,  however,  that  there  was  a 
shyness  on  the  pai-t  of  the  New  School  branch,  —  that 
there  was  even,  in  some  minds,  a  feeling  bordering  upon 
irritation,  at  the  equivocal  negotiations  thus  far,  especially 
at  the  rejection  of  the  Basis  by  the  Old  School  Presbyte- 
ries, even  after  its  adoption  by  both  Assemblies,  and  fm*- 
ther  still,  at  the  seeming  instability  of  the  Assembly  itself, 
projDOsing  alteration  of  the  Basis,  even  after  their 
own  formal  adoption  of  it,  and  at  the  same  sitting. 
Leading  members  of  the  New  School  were  fi-ee  to  say  that 
they  were  tii'ed  of  such  fi-uitless  overtures,  —  that  they 
wished  the  matter  brought  to  a  prompt  decision,  that 
fm-ther  delay  and  doubt  would  be  damaging  to  all  the 
interests  of  the  Church,  and  that,  for  themselves,  they 
felt  aggrieved  at  the  divers  misadventures,  and  could 
only  now,  in  all  good  faith,  await  the  definite  action  of 
the  other  branch.  There  was  a  chafing  of  spirit,  easily 
accounted  for,  which  seemed,  at  the  first,  to  imperil  the 
good  result. 

"  Not  a  few  "  (says  Dr.  Stearns)  "  began  to  feel  that 
they  had  been   trifled  with,  and   the  prospect  of  Re- 


508  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

union  seemed  to  many,  at  that  moment,  to  be  very 
unpromising. '^ 

On  tlie  other  hand,  there  were  not  a  few,  of  both 
branches,  who  were  only  debating  whether  the  Reunion 
couhl  not  be  consummated  at  this  sitting,  and  without  any 
fui'ther  delay.  At  the  opening  exercises  in  the  Brick 
Chui'ch,  when  Dr.  Musgrave  took  his  seat  in  the  pulpit, 
the  venerable  Dr.  Spring,  sitting  beside  him,  suggested 
the  propriet}^,  as  the  first  business,  of  "  notifying  the  other 
Irancli  of  our  readiness  to  consummate  the  Reunion 
immediately^^  Dr.  Musgrave  replied  that  he  had  thought 
much  of  that  measm-e,  and  would  be  quite  agreed,  ex- 
cept that  there  were  over  thirty  Presbyteries  of  oui' 
branch  who  had  protested  beforehand  against  any  deci- 
sion being-  reached  without  first  overturins;  the  terms 
to  tlie  Presbyteries  for  then*  action.  And  when  this 
majestic  and  veteran  pastor,  the  Metropolitan  Patriarch, 
then  rose  in  prayer,  he  uttered  such  exalted  petitions, 
in  such  glowing  and  godly  words,  as  even  he,  perhaps, 
had  never  excelled. 

The  day  was  a  sunshine  after  the  rain.  The  noble 
sanctuary  was  crowded.  The  opening  sermon  in  this 
Assembly  did  not  touch  the  toj^ic  of  Reunion,  albeit  it 
was  well  known  that  there  were  members  present 
whose  minds  were  not  quite  clear  as  yet,  and  who  might 
need  some  argument  or  persuasion.  But  the  retiring 
Moderator,  with  all  his  earnest  zeal  for  the  measure, 
"determined  not  to  know  anjrthing  among  them  save  Jesus 
Christ  and  Him  crucified."  The  discourse  was  a  massive 
and  masteily  ex]3osition  of  the  Gospel  Fiiith,  in  its  rela- 
tion to  the  great  salvation.  The  passage  was  Mai'k  xvi. 
1 G  :  "  He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved, 


THE    ASSESLBLEES    OF    1869.  509 

etc."  Sucli  clear,  convincing  exhibition  of  fundamental 
truth  was,  in  itself,  a  proof  of  Christian  unity,  and  a 
plea  for  Chj-istian  Union,  amongst  those  of  "  like  precious 
faith." 

The  sermon  at  the  opening  of  the  other  Assembly 
grasped  the  great  theme,  and  in  a  discourse  of  an  hour 
and  twenty  minutes,  elucidated  the  subject  of  Christian 
Union.  Tlie  text  was  fi'om  the  intercessory  prayer  of 
our  Lord :  "  That  they  all  may  he  one^  With  sound 
logic  and  luminous  illustration,  the  preacher  enforced 
the  importance  of  Presbyterian  Union  under  such  heads 
as  these :  "  The  demand  for  united  effort."  "  Induce- 
ments to  Reunion."  "The  obstacles  not  insuperable." 
"The  desire  for  Reunion."  "Reunion  probable,"  and 
"  Unity  of  spirit." 

Both  these  sermons,  so  strildngly  different,  and  yet, 
in  reality,  so  much  to  the  same  effect,  had  their  happy 
influence  in  both  Assemblies.  Th  e  one  Gospel ])TOvi8io7t 
and  the  oneness  of  Gospel  effort  was  the  united  theme, 
looldno;  to  the  Reunion.     Said  Dr.  Stearns : 

I  say,  if  we  were  only  united,  —  and  why  shoiild  we  not  be  united  ?  —  what 
possible  reason  could  a  candid  man,  looking  on  and  observing  the  ways  of 
these  two  main  Branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  see  or  devise  why  they 
should  stand  apart  or  claim  to  be  distinguished  ?  They  have  the  same  Con- 
fession of  Faith ;  not  a  word,  a  letter,  or  a  point,  either  in  the  confession, 
properly  so-called,  or  the  Catechisms  that  repeat  and  expound  it,  which  Ls 
not  exactly  the  same.  And  to  this  they  have  loth  held  fast  during  the  thirty- 
one  years  of  their  separation.  They  have  precisely  the  same  Fcrm  of  Govern- 
ment, Book  of  Discipline,  and  Directory  for  Worship,  the  same  order  of 
exercises,  the  same  method  of  procedure,  the  same  objects  of  Christian  benefi- 
cence, and  the  same  style  and  stamp  of  piety  and  action.  And  they  both 
claim  to  bear  precisely  the  same  name.  Where,  in  the  whole  history  of  the 
Church,  was  there  ever  exhibited  such  a  spectacle  ?  Two  bodies  of 
Christian  men  who  cotdd  find  nothing  tangible,  nothing  by  which  the  eye 
or  ear  of  a  passer-by  would  be  able  to  distinguish  them,  and  yet  unable  to  go 
together? 


510  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


THE  OBSTACLES  NOT  INSUPERABLE. 

But  it  is  said  we  are  very  jealous  about  the  doctrines.  Well,  are  we  not  all 
jealous  about  them  ?  If  not,  why  have  we  kept  the  old  Confession  of  Faith  ? 
Does  not  that  state  them  distinctly  ?  Is  there  a  man  among  us  who  would 
exchange  it  for  another  system,  or  allow  its  proper  integrity,  as  a  system  of 
doctrine,  to  be  impaired  ? 

But  it  is  said,  on  the  other  hand,  we  want  liberty,  both  of  thought  and  ex- 
pression. What  liberty  ?  Liberty  to  subscribe  one  thing  and  believe  another  ? 
Liberty  to  think  and  speak  contrary  to  the  Holy  Scriptures  ?  None  of  us 
would  say  that.  Do  we  then  require  other  or  greater  liberty  than  that  se- 
cured to  us  by  the  words  of  our  Standards  ?  They  require  us  to  maintain  the 
unrivalled  supremacy  of  the  Scriptures,  and  to  receive  them  as  the  only  infal- 
lible rule  of  faith  and  practice.  Presbyterianism  has  made  provision  for  an 
ever-fresh  resort  to  that  fountain  of  truth.  It  does  not  require  us  to  receive 
the  Confession  of  Faith  as  infallible.  It  does  not  tie  us  up  to  those  precise 
words  and  forms  of  expression ;  it  does  not  require  us  to  subscribe  to  every 
proposition  contained  in  it,  but  only  to  receive  it  as  containing,  according  to 
its  true  intents  and  original  meaning,  the  system  of  doctrines  taught  in  the 
Scriptures.  There  is  no  dispute  now  between  the  two  parties  (whatever 
there  may  have  been  once),  in  regard  to  that  matter.  True,  it  would  be  hard 
to  find  in  the  Confession  any  other  than  a  pretty  strong  Calvinism  ;  but  Cal 
vtnism  is  not  that  iron  thing  which  some  have  supposed  it.  None  of  us  takes 
it  as  such ;  none  of  us  preaches  it  as  such.  We  mean  to  have  aU  reasonable 
liberty.  But,  in  the  union  or  out  of  it,  we  mean  to  maintain  and  teach  the 
doctrines  of  the  Confession. 

The  Assemblies  were  then  formally  organized.  The 
election,  in  the  Old  School  body,  fell  upon  the  Rev.  Me- 
lancthon  W.  Jacobus,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Professor  of  Biblical 
Literature  and  Exegetical  Theology  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Allegheny,  Pa.  Dr.  Jacobus's  senior  col- 
league, the  Rev.  David  Elliott,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  was 
Moderator  of  the  Assembly  at  the  Disruption  in  1837. 
He  was  professor  of  Didactic  Theology  at  that  time, 
and  still  lives,  to  magnify  his  office,  and  to  rejoice  in 
the  Reunion,  It  was  jocosely  remarked,  with  allusion 
to  the  chairs,  that  Dogmatic  Tlieology  had  presided  at 


TIIE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  511 

tlie  separation,  wliile  it  was  reserved  for  BihUcal  Exe- 
gesis to  preside  at  the  Reunion. 

In  the  New  School  body  the  choice  fell  upon  the  Rev. 
Philemon  H.  Fowler,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  at  Utica,  New  York. 

The  Moderators  had  been  fellow-students  and  friends 
in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  at  the  time  of 
the  disruption.  This  was  accepted  as  a  Providential 
bond,  and  an  omen  of  cordial  relations. 

The  first  formal  business  of  the  Old  School  Assembly 
was  the  motion  of  Dr.  Musgrave  for  a  "  Committee  of 
Conference  on  Reunion  " — to  whom  all  matters  on  the 
subject  should  be  referred.  And  the  same  was  like^\^so 
moved  in  the  other  Assembly,  on  the  hearing  of  this 
fact,  and  without  waiting  for  the  formal  notification. 
In  the  former  house,  the  Moderator  appointed  a  strong 
Committee,  who,  though  entirely  new  in  this  joint  ofii- 
cial  work,  fairly  represented  the  hitherto  diverse  views 
of  the  body  on  the  subject.  And,  in  the  other  Assem- 
bly, there  were  able  representative  men. 


L.  H.  Atwater,  D.D.  J.  B.  Shaw,  D,D. 


512 


PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCn. 


Wiiam  Strong 


These  Committees  at  once  addressed  themselves  earn- 
estly to  tlie  task,  botli  separately  and  jointly,  and  tlie 
members  were  scarcely  to  be  seen  in  the  Assemblies 
durino:  the  fii'st  week  of  the  sittino-s. 

Deep  interest  was  felt,  on  all  hands,  touching  the  ne- 
gotiations going  forward  in  the  Committee-rooms ;  and 
it  was  plain  that  every  phase  of  the  question  was  can- 
vassed, without  and  within,  with  a  view,  if  possible,  to 
agree  upon  a  plan  that  should  be  mutually  satisfactory. 
There  were  significant  hints,  here  and  there,  of  sharp 
discussion.  But  it  soon  came  to  be  known  that  the 
respective  Committees  were  each  a  unit,  and  that 
between  them  there  was  only  the  most  manly,  cour- 
teous, and  Christian  debate. 

A  lady  of  New  York,  well  reported  of  for  good 
works,  and  laio^\m  as  enthusiastic  for  the  Reunion,  met 
Drs.  M.  and  S.  at  the  corner  of  the  Brick  Chm-ch,  and 
gracefully  congratulated  the  former  upon  the  happy 
prospect.      He  replied,   to    her    dismay,    "Madam,   I 


THT2   ASSEMBLIES    OP    1869.  513 

tear  that  it  will  fail,  after  all,  and  tliat  aU  our  efforts 
will  come  to  nought,  if  the  position  taken  by  my 
brother  here  is  to  be  maintained."  They  went  into 
Committee  again,  and  found  that  they  had  simply  mis- 
understood each  other,  and  were  soon  heartily  agreed. 

Already,  on  the  first  evening  of  the  Session,  accord- 
ing to  notice  given  in  the  Assembly,  the  Ruling  Elders 
of  the  New  School  body  were  convened  for  prayer. 
They  were  understood  to  be  earnest  for  the  reuniting, 
and  they  made  this  sentiment  most  manifest  in  their  peti- 
tions at  the  very  threshold  of  the  work.  And  so,  also, 
they  made  their  influence  to  be  widely  felt  in  this  As- 
sembly. The  power  of  prayer  was  devoutly  recognized 
amidst  such  grave  responsibilities.  Men  felt  that  it 
was  a  case  in  which  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church 
must  be  deeply  interested,  and  should  be  humbly  in- 
voked,—  that  God,  as  in  the  case  of  Jacob  and  Esau, 
must  be  recognized  as  controlling  the  minds  of  men ; 
and  that  there,  at  the  brook  of  Jabbok,  it  was  fitting  to 
pass  the  evening  and  the  night,  if  need  be,  to  pray  that 
the  meeting  of  the  alienated  brothers  might  be  in 
peace  —  little  dreaming  how,  in  the  morning,  they 
would  fall  on  each  other's  neck,  with  tears  and  kisses, 
and  start  along  their  way  together,  careful  for  each 
other's  comfort  and  anxious  for  sparing  the  flock. 

On  the  Sabbath  there  was  a  general  interchange  of 
pulpit  ministrations  between  the  two  branches,  giving 
pleasant  presage  of  the  Reunion. 

On  the  fourth  day  of  the  Sessions,  Monday,  a  joint 
})rayer-meeting  was  held  at  8^  to  9^  a.  m.,  in  the  Brick 
Chiu-ch.  The  Moderator,  Dr.  Jacobus,  presided,  assisted 
by  his  brother  Moderator,  Dr.  Fowler.     The  house  was 


514  PRESBYTERIAX    CIIUllCU. 

filled.  TLie  occasion  elicited  the  deepest  interest.  The 
meeting  was  aglow.  Representatives  of  both  Asscia- 
blies,  clerical  and  lay,  led  in  the  prayers.  The  petitions 
were  fervent.  The  oil  ran  do^^Ti  upon  the  beai'd,  and 
went  down  to  the  sldrts  of  the  garments,  and  the  per- 
fume filled  the  house.  One  of  the  religious  papers  re- 
marked of  it,  "  It  was  a  blessed  season,  never  to  be  for- 
gotten by  those  who  were  present.  At  the  close,  two 
verses  of  the  hymn  '  All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name ' 
were  sung  with  a  fervor  not  often  excelled.  Brethren 
parted  with  reluctance,  as  if  unmlling  to  separate." 

On  Monday  evening,  a  grand  social  Reunion  took 
place  at  "the  Apollo  Rooms,"  Broadway.  It  was  a 
happy  conception,  admirably  planned  and  carried  out 
by  the  Rev.  Drs.  S.  I.  &l  E.  D.  G.  Prime,  of  the  New 
Yorh  Observer.  The  arrangements  were  magnificent 
and  munificent,  altogether  worthy  of  the  jubilant  occa- 
sion, and  of  the  great  Metropolis.  Not  only  were  the 
members  of  the  two  Assemblies  thus  brought  into 
social  contact,  but  the  congregations  of  both  branches 
were  largely  represented  —  the  wives,  and  sons,  and 
daughters  added  to  the  charm  of  the  soiree.  Ministers 
and  laymen  of  other  denominations  evinced  their  inter- 
est by  their  cheering  presence.  Prominent  civilians, 
fi-om  the  city  and  from  abroad,  men  of  professional 
rank  and  of  military  and  political  renown,  gave  zest 
to  the  occasion.  Music  was  richly  discom-sed.  Dr. 
Adams  called  the  meeting  to  order,  and  announced  the 
appropriate  introductory  of  praise,  ^^  Blest  he  the  tie 
that  hindsr  This  was  sung  with  a  will  by  the  im- 
mense assemblage,  variously  estimated  at  1,500  and 
2,000.     After  an  opening,  in  his  o^vn  graceful  style, 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  515 

apon  the  word  "  Reception,"  whicli  headed  the  cards  of 
admission  —  sayiug  that  it  was  each  receiving  the  other, 
he  alluded  to  the  mijptials  in  prospect,  and  then,  ap- 
proaching the  Moderator  of  the  Old  School  Assembly, 
and  seizing  him  l^y  both  hands,  he  led  him  to  the  front  of 
the  platform  for  an  impromptu  address.  Dr.  Jacobus 
responded  to  the  graceful  commitment,  and  followed  up 
Dr.  Adams's  introductory  by  an  allusion  to  Oriental 
nuptials,  in  which  the  bride  is  bargained  for  by  father 
or  brother,  and  when  the  groom  is  introduced  to  her  by 
"the  friend  of  the  bridegroom,"  on  the  nuptial  occa- 
sion, and  the  bride  is  then  perhaps  for  the  first  time 
unveiled  to  his  view,  he  is  expected  to  make  loud  dem- 
onstration of  joy;  and  "the  friend  of  the  bridegroom, 
who  standeth  and  heareth  him,  rejoiceth  greatly  because 
of  the  biidegroom's  voice."  Here  it  was  the  Elder 
Brother  who  had  bespoken  the  Bride,  and  had  made  the 
contract,  and  we  could  all  rejoice. 

This  was  followed  by  Dr.  Howard  Crosby,  and  by 
the  Moderator  (New  School),  Dr.  Fowler,  in  words  of 
brief  acknowledgment,  also  by  Dr.  Ormiston,  of  Canada, 
and  by  the  venerable  Dr.  Samuel  Hanson  Cox. 

The  huzz  of  a  score  of  hundreds  of  voices  over- 
whelmed the  loudest  efforts  of  the  platform  beyond  the 
circuit  of  a  few  feet,  till  the  speeches  and  music  gave  way 
for  the  banquet-room.  Here  was,  indeed,  a  rich  disj^lay 
of  the  elegant  hosj)itality  of  New  York  Christians. 
The  highest  credit  is  due  to  the  generous  entertainers, 
and  to  those  who,  by  dint  of  indefatigable  industry, 
wi'ought  out  such  a  splendid  success.  It  was,  in  effect, 
Social  Reunion  pleading  for  the  Ecclesiastical  Reunion 
of  Presbyterians.     So  many  old  fiiends  came  pleasantly 


516  PEESBTTEEIAN   CHXJECH. 

together — ministers  and  members,  Old  and  New — that 
the  occasion  formed,  altogether,  a  most  significant  index 
and  appropriate  prelude  to  the  higher  Eeunion  of  the 
week. 

Already,  during  the  day,  there  had  been  a  formal 
reception,  in  the  New  School  Assembly,  of  the  Delegates 
from  the  other  branch,  appointed  the  preceding  year. 
The  hour  was  anticipated  with  great  interest  as  being  a 
possible  foretaste  of  the  better  things  to  come.  The 
house  was  thronged  with  eager  listeners,  deeply  sympa 
thizing  in  whatever  tended  to  the  great  result. 

The  venerable  C.  C.  Beatty,  D.D.,  first  addi-essed  the 
Assembly.  He  adverted  to  the  opening  of  this  corre- 
spondence, in  1862,  when  he  presided  as  Moderator. 
The  address  was  an  elaborate  and  earnest  exposition  of 
the  great  doctrines  of  Unity  and  Liberty,  defining  the 
power  of  the  Church  to  set  a  guard  upon  abuses  of 
liberty,  and  a  check  upon  such  diversities  in  docti'ine  and 
practice,  as  are  not  justly  allowable.  It  was  eminently 
kind  and  sound,  and  met  a  cordial  response  fi'om  the 
entii'e  body.  Dr.  Musgrave  followed,  sapng  that  he 
was  glad  to  be  present  as  a  Delegate^  but  that  he  had 
rather  be  there  as  a  Commissioner :  reminding,  also, 
that  upon  his  motion,  at  the  Columbus  Assembly,  this 
correspondence  had  been  begun.  "Now,  sir,"  he  added, 
"I  can't  tolerate  en*or.  (Impressive  silence.)  I  dare 
not  do  it.  I  am  sworn  not  to  do  it.  There  must  be  a 
limit  to  expression  of  opinion.  Now,  I  honestly  say  to 
you,  if  I  did  not  believe — if  I  were  not  fully  convinced 
— that  there  was  no  vital  difference  between  us,  I 
would  oppose  this  Union  with  all  my  heart.  I  would, 
80  help  tne^  God!     But  I  have  the  same  confidence  in 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  517 

yoiir  body  tliat  I  have  in  my  own.  When  did  you  evei 
hear  of  a  man  being  tried  for  heresy  in  the  Old  School 
Church?  When,  since  1838?"  (Keiterated  laughter 
and  applause). 

He  was  followed  by  the  Hon.  Robert  McKnight,  in 
cordial  salutations.  These  were  responded  to  by  the 
Moderator,  Dr.  Fowler,  who  said,  "We  seek  only 
what  you  ask — the  Word  of  God,  and  the  liberty  of 
that  Word.  These  points  conceded,  we  are  ready  to 
consummate  the  Union  at  once." 

A  Second  Joint  Prayer-meeting  was  held  on  Wednes- 
day (the  sixth  day)  morning  in  "  the  Qhurcli  of  the 
Covenant.''^ 

The  religious  fervor  was  in  no  wise  abated,  but 
i-ather  increased.  And  before  the  close,  it  was  an- 
nounced by  Dr.  Musgrave  that  the  Sub-Committee  of 
Conference  had  agreed  unanimously  upon  a  report  to 
the  Joint  Committee,  which  would  be  presented  at  half- 
past  ten  o'clock.  It  was  not  yet  known  what  was  the 
result.  But  there  was  a  feeling  abroad  that  it  could 
be  nothing  adverse  to  what  seemed  to  be  desired  by 
all. 

In  the  Old  School  Assembly,  on  this  day,  the  dele- 
gates from  Corresponding  bodies  were  received.  Dr.  W. 
J.  R.  Taylor,  fi^om  the  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church,  and 
Dr.  Wm.  Ormiston,  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Canada,  were  heard  in  the  morning  :  and,  in  the  after- 
noon. Dr.  Wm.  Bruce,  from  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church.  Each  of  these  made  happy  reference  to  the 
Reunion  as  an  event  the  most  desirable,  and  as  a  move- 
ment enlisting  their  Christian  sympathy  and  that  of 
tlieir  respective  Churches.   And  they  severally  expressed 


518  PRESBYTERIAN-   CHURCH. 

tlie  hope  of  further  Unions  to  embrace  all  the  Presby- 
terian family  in  one. 

Immediately  following  these,  the  delegates  fi'om  the 
New  School  body  were  received — the  Assembly  rising 
as  they  appeared  upon  the  platform.  The  house  was 
crowded.  The  galleries  were  thronged  with  deeply- 
interested  spectators,  representing  the  Christian  families 
of  both  bodies,  ardently  enlisted  in  the  great  Eeunion 
movement. 

Though  it  was  only  a  delegation  of  the  previous 
year,  appointed  by  the  last  Assembly,  whose  office  it 
was  now  to  convey  the  salutations  of  the  other  body, 
without  any  report  on  the  subject  of  Eeunion,  yet  it 
was  seen  to  be  a  notable  step  in  the  advance,  and  it 
proved  a  golden  link  in  the  chain  of  events  bearing 
steadily  upon  the  issue. 

The  Eev.  Dr.  Wm.  Adams,  Chairman,  conveyed  the 
fraternal  greetings  of  his  constituency  in  passages  of 
rare  eloquence,  and  of  genuine  Christian  courtesy,  which 
elicited  the  admiration  and  applause  of  the  large  audi- 
ence. 

He  was  followed  by  Hon.  Wm.  E.  Dodge,  w^ho,  in  a 
brief  and  earnest  speech,  kept  up  the  glowing  enthusi- 
asm. To  these  the  Moderator,  Dr.  Jacobus,  responded, 
fully  reciprocating  and  emphasizing  the  courtesies  of 
the  occasion. 

This  response  is  here  inserted  as  part  of  the  history, 
showing  the  understandings  as  expressed  on  either  side. 

Eev.  Dr.  M.  W.  Jacobus,  Moderator,  responded  to 
the  delegates  from  the  New  School  Assembly  as 
follows : 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  519 

"  The  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America  "  opens  her  arms  to  receive  you,  as  delegates  from  ' '  The  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. "  We 
are  glad  to  see  you  on  this  platform  to-day.  We  have  been  wont  to  speak  of 
you  as  dehcately  as  possible,  as  the  "other  Branch."  It  was  never  said 
whether  we  were  branches  of  a  tree,  or  branches  of  a  river.  But  Jesus 
Christ  spoke  a  parable  about  the  branches  when  he  said :  "I  am  the  viae,  ye 
are  the  branches. "  Blessed  be  God,  the  vine  iacludes  the  branches.  I  have 
known  a  tree,  just  by  being  lopped  off  at  the  top,  to  shoot  out  right  and  left, 
and  there  seemed  to  be  a  healthful,  vital  competition  between  the  branches, 
as  to  which  should  bear  the  greater  amount  of  fruit.  God's  ways  are  wonder- 
ful. There  may  have  been  some  healthfid  competition  between  us,  which 
may  have  done  ourselves  and  the  world  some  service.  But  the  time  has  come 
when  this  correspondence  should  cease,  not  because  of  variance,  but  because 
of  alliance,  just  because  of  the  coincidence  and  concurrence  with  which  we 
shall  henceforth  work  together  and  walk  together  in  the  cause  of  our  blessed 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  On  the  one  hand  we  have  had  our  devotional  reunions, 
and  they  have  been  blessed  ones ;  and  on  the  other  hand  we  have  had  our 
fraternal,  social  reunion,  when  we  have  eaten  salt  together,  for  a  covenant 
of  salt.  We  have  dwelt  in  tents  together,  and  claim  a  share  of  each  other's 
heritage.  ' '  Behold  how  good  and  how  pleasant  a  thing  it  is  for  brethren  to 
dwell  together  in  unity  ;"  not  to  live  apart  in  unity,  but  to  dwell  together  in 
unity,  under  one  roof.  It  is  like  the  precious  ointment  upon  the  head,  which 
ran  down  upon  the  beard  and  went  to  the  skirts  of  the  garments ;  and  the 
beard  was  Aaron's,  and  the  garments  were  Aaron's,  and  we  are  a  royal  priest- 
hood. "  It  is  Uke  the  dew  of  Hermon,  like  the  dew  that  descended  upon  the 
mountains  of  Zion.  For  there  the  Lord  commanded  the  blessing,  even  life  f or- 
evermore. " 

You  spoke  the  other  night  of  nuptials  about  to  be  celebrated,  and  there 
seemed  to  be  some  little  difference  and  doubt  about  the  matter.  I  apprehend 
that  the  only  question  can  be,  which  is  to  be  married  to  the  other ;  and  it  is 
stUl,  I  believe,  an  open  question  whether  a  man  is  married  to  the  woman, 
or  whether  a  woman  is  married  to  the  man. 

But  this  is  of  small  moment  to  us.  The  time  has  come  when  Joseph  and 
his  brethren  must  make  a  mutual  discovery  of  themselves.  They  cannot 
refrain  themselves  to-day. 

I  remember  in  the  same  history,  when  a  pair  of  brothers,  twin  brothers^ 
alienated  from  each  other  for  a  time,  came  together ;  it  was  Jacob  and  Esau. 
We  cannot  say  to-day  which  is  Jacob  and  which  is  Esau.  But  the  brothers 
had  each  his  claim  to  the  birthright.  And  we  have  each  of  us  a  claim  to  the 
birthright,  which  is  a  blessed  birthright.  We  have  the  common  standards, 
we  have  common  formulas  of  Christian  faith,  a  common  form  of  Church 
Government  and  polity,  common  memories  of  the  past,  and  common  ances- 


520  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


tral  traditions.  Such  a  heritage,  blessed  be  God,  such  a  birthright  we  own 
together. 

We  have  come  to  an  interesting  posture  in  this  state  of  things.  Yoa 
remember  that  one  of  these  travelling  brothers  was  met  by  the  angels  of  God. 
He  called  the  name  of  the  place  of  meeting  Mahanaim.  And  then  he  sent  for- 
ward presents  to  his  estranged  brother,  whom  he  feared.  And  he  put  up  hia 
prayer  to  God,  pleading  his  Covenant  —  "for  with  my  staff  I  passed  over  this 
Jordan,  and  now  I  am  become  two  bands. "  Aud  now,  he  crosses  the  ford 
Jabbok.  We  have  come  to  this  point,  which  in  secular  phrase  is  the  crossing 
of  the  Rubicon.  And  now  there  is  wrestling  to  be  done  with  the  Covenant 
Angel  imtil  the  breaking  of  the  day.  Oh,  for  the  faith  and  hope  to  say  — 
"We  wUl  not  let  thee  go  except  thou  bless  us. "  Now  is  the  moment  when  the 
name  is  to  be  changed,  when  Jacob  is  to  be  called  Israel  —  prevailer  ^vith  God 
and  with  man !  And  now  comes  to  pass  the  meeting  of  these  twin  brothers. 
On  the  neck  of  each  other,  what  tears  of  joy.  And  then  the  mutual  tender- 
ness and  sparing  of  each  other,  with  which  they  go  forward  on  their  journey 
homeward.  Too  much  self-confidence  will  spoU  the  matter.  Therefore,  the 
WrestUng  Angel  will  perhaps  make  the  sinew  of  his  thigh  to  shrink,  that  he 
may  go  halting  in  a  sense  of  his  dependence. 

The  General  Assembly  is  eighty  years  old  this  year  —  fourscore  years  old. 
It  is  not,  however,  with  it  as  it  is  with  the  human  frame,  that  the  strength  is 
labor  and  sorrow.  No,  but  the  labor  and  sorrow  is  the  strength.  So  it  shall 
be  by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  us.  God  doesn't  lead  us  into  Canaan  by  a 
very  direct  route.  He  has  a  discipline  for  us.  We  never  saw  that,  when  a 
great  good  was  to  be  accomplished,  we  were  sent  right  into  the  promised 
land.  We  have  been  talking  these  many  years  of  a  basis,  a  platform  upon 
which  we  can  stand  together.  But  we  have  found  at  last  that  the  tnie  and 
proper  platform,  the  constitutional  platform  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  is 
the  platform  of  our  Standards,  pure  and  simple ;  no  limitation,  no  qualifica- 
tion, no  explanation.  Some  speak  of  liberty.  My  dear  brethren,  we  have 
liberty,  as  your  retiring  Moderator  has  well  put  it,  not  the  liberty  to  subscribe 
one  thing  and  believe  another.  This  neither  of  us  would  ask.  But  it  is  the 
liberty  to  receive  the  truth  of  God,  and  our  appeal  wiU  be  BtiU  as  ever  to 
the  vernacular  Scriptures,  and  then  to  the  originals  —  the  Hebrew  and  Greek 
Scriptures.  This  is  the  safe  and  dignified  platform  upon  which  we  can  all 
stand,  as  Presbyterians,  and  must  stand.  We  can  stand  squarely  upon  this 
platform  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  we  rejoice  to-day  that  we  can  clasp 
hands,  and  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder,  stUl  embracing  the  doctrines  of  our 
fathers. 

I  pray  and  believe  that  the  result  of  this  \viLl  be  that  the  people  will  come 
forward  with  their  offerings,  and  with  new  impulses,  giving  themselves  and 
their  means  to  forward  the  cause  of  the  blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  when  they 
see  our  banners  floating  together  in  the  breeze.  There  is  but  one  grand  ban- 
ner after  all,  borne  by  us  both,  and  we  are  one.     You  speak  of  the  Church  on 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  521 

"the  other  side."  Was  it  not  marvellous  in  the  Providence  of  God  that  thia 
Reunion  Committee  had  its  Chairmen  taken  to  heaven,  first  from  your  side, 
and  then  from  our  side,  as  if  to  show  the  connections  of  the  cause  with  the 
Church  triumphant  ?  Venerated  and  beloved  men,  Brainerd  and  Krebs  —  they 
have  gone  up  and  are  set  dovra  together  with  Christ  in  heavenly  places  :  and 
I  think  this  day  is  something  like  the  transfiguration,  when  Jesus  Christ  is 
manifestly  transfigured  before  us,  and  when  his  countenance  shines  like  light- 
ning and  his  raiment  is  white  as  snow.  And  as  those  two  men  of  the  old 
covenant,  Moses  and  Elias,  came  down  and  talked  with  him,  so  may  our  two 
brothers  look  down  upon  us  from  their  heavenly  places,  and  talk  of  this 
blessed  work  of  Christ.  We  pray  to  God  for  the  morrow's  dawn,  to  hear  the 
Report  of  the  Committee  of  Conference.     We  have  an  inkling  of  what  it  is. 

You,  Mr.  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Conference,  in  the  Providence  of 
God,  are  happily  made  the  representative  of  your  side  of  the  house  to  us  to- 
day. We  are  waiting  for  your  report.  We  are  impatient,  anxious,  longing 
for  it.  Our  Presbyterian  system  has  eminent  simplicity  for  the  most  univer- 
sal work,  a  glorious  apparatus  for  the  conquest  of  our  land  to  Jesus  Christ. 
We  have  the  locomotive  built,  and  pohshed,  and  oiled,  and  the  track  is  laid, 
ready  to  bear  forward  its  loads  of  precious  freight.  But  it  must  be  fired  np  ! 
and  what  we  ask  is,  that  the  fire  of  God  may  come  down  upon  us.  That  is 
what  we  ask.  And  we  shall  then  traverse  this  continent,  and  stretch  our 
arms  widely  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  the  rivers  to  the  end^  of  the  earth. 
May  God  bless  you  and  keep  you  always. 


It  was  now  well  understood  that  "  the  Joint  Commit- 
tee of  Conference  "  had  unanimously  agreed  upon  a 
Keport,  and  already  it  was  intimated  by  the  Speakers, 
and  by  the  Moderator,  in  his  response,  that  this  corre- 
spondence was  now  to  cease,  not  because  of  divergence, 
but  because  of  convergence  and  concordance.  The 
crowded  assemblage,  present  fi'om  both  houses,  brim- 
med over  ^\ith  emotion.  And  the  smiles  and  tears  of 
meml^ers  and  of  spectators  indicated  plainly  theii'  zeal 
for  the  good  result. 

On  the  seventh  day  of  the  Assembly  (Sabbatic)  a 
Third  Joint  i^ratjer-meetinfj  having  opened  the  day  with 
fi'agrant  incense  of  fraternal  pleadings  at  the  mercy- ' 
seat,  the  Joint  Committee  of  Conference,  by  their  re- 


522  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

spective  Cliairmen,  presented  tlieir  Report  at  ten,  a.  m., 
according  to  announcement  of  the  previous  day. 

The  public  interest  was"  intense.  Both  houses  were 
crowded,  as  the  reading  was  going  on,  simultaneously, 
in  both.  Enthusiasm  was  added  by  the  declaration 
that  the  Report  was  unanimous.  Drs.  Musgrave  and 
Adams  explained  the  main  featui-es  to  theii*  respect- 
ive houses.  The  speech  of  the  former  produced  a  pro- 
found impression  upon  all,  and  was  regarded  as  a 
masterly  expoSQ  of  the  plan,  and  a  conclusive  vindica- 
tion of  it.  At  the  close  of  this,  the  Moderator  called 
upon  Dr.  John  Hall  to  lead  the  Assembly  in  thanks- 
giving and  prayer.  From  amidst  the  packed  multitude 
in  the  aisle.  Dr.  Hall  pleaded  fervently  as  befitted  the 
occasion. 

With  one  heart  and  with  one  voice  we  glorify  thee  for  that  to  which  thou 
hast  brought  us  this  day,  for  the  progress  that  has  been  made,  for  the  encour- 
agement that  is  afforded  to  us,  for  the  unanimity  that  thou  hast  given  unto 
our  brethren ;  and  now.  Lord,  we  do  not  loiow  what  is  before  us.  We,  in 
our  feebleness  and  foolishness,  cannot  teU  \\dth  confidence  what  is  the  best 
that  we  should  do ;  but,  0  Lord  God,  thou  knowest  all  things  ;  and  we  beseech 
thee  that  thou  wouldst  give  us  bountifully  of  thy  -n-isdom ;  clear,  we  be- 
Beech  thee,  our  spiritual  vision  from  aU  obstriictions  of  pride  and  selfishness ; 
enable  us  in  thy  light  to  see  light  clearly.  Give  to  each  of  us  singleness  of 
eye,  and  let  the  whole  body  be  fiUed  with  light.  Oh,  blessed  Jesus,  the  Son 
of  God,  who  hast  brought  us  to  love  thee  and  worship  thee,  into  whose  hands 
we  have  been  led  to  commit  our  souls'  salvation,  whom  we  acknowledge  as 
King  and  Head  in  the  Church ;  we  beseech  thee  that  thou  wouldst  take  this 
matter  into  thy  hand ;  leave  it  not,  we  pray  thee,  to  the  pride  or  to  the  pas- 
sion or  even  to  the  mind  of  man.  Oh,  take  into  thine  own  Almighty  hand 
this  matter,  and  if  it  be  thy  supreme  wiU  to  cany  this  thing  through,  we  be- 
seech thee  that  it  may  be  done  in  such  wise  that  we  may  be  thorouglily  devoted 
to  it  in  heart,  spirit,  feeling,  and  happy  Christian  acti\-ity.  And  if  this  is  the 
end,  pour  out  thy  Spirit  upon  us,  upon  both  branches  of  the  Church ;  and  O, 
let  it  please  thee  to  humble  us  before  thee  in  such  a  way  as  to  bring  us  to- 
gether that  we  may  be  one ;  that  we  may  be  imited,  humble,  earnest,  sincere 
children  of  Christ,  sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  learning  the  truth,  and  learn- 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  523 

ing  the  way  of  service  from  his  holy  lips.  Oh,  keep  us,  we  beseech  thee, 
from  looking  unduly  to  visible  resources.  We  feel  that  this  Christian  work 
that  thou  hast  given  us  to  do  in  the  land,  is  to  be  done,  not  by  might,  nor  by 
power,  but  by  thy  Holy  Spirit. 

Then  followed  deliverances  of  leading  members,  in 
both  houses,  defining  their  position;  some  accounting 
for  then*  slowness  in  accepting  the  Reunion  movement, 
and  declaring,  in  certain  instances,  their  opposition  to  it 
up  to  the  time  of  this  Assembly.  Others  vindicating 
the  spiiit  and  terms  of  the  plan  throughout  —  while 
some  expressed  theii*  fears,  and  contended  for  certain 
understandings  as  requisite  to  secm'e  the  desired  har- 
mony of  working.  There  were  those,  also,  w^ho  here 
bore  -witness  to  the  orthodoxy  which  others  had  doubted, 
and  to  the  sound  instructions  given  in  the  Theological 
Seminaries  of  the  New  School  branch.  These  testi- 
monies were  outspoken  and  influential.  It  could  not 
be  wonderful  if  some  few  would  j^^<?  a  caveat^  or  serve 
a  special  notice  as  to  the  understandings  in  the  case. 
But  it  was  most  surprising  that,  among  the  various  de- 
liverances, there  was  nothing  said  but  was  most  frater- 
nal, as  between  Chiistian  men,  loving  the  common  cause 
and  service. 

The  venerable  patriaith.  Dr.  Spring,  objected  to  any 
delay  in  the  consummation,  and  argued  that  it  would  be 
"  flying  in  the  face  of  the  prayers  of  God's  people." 
^^  If  you 2^ostj_)one  tliis  Union  another  year  [said  he], 
I  slicdl  xjrohably  not  see  i%  but  sliall  die  a  member  of 
a  divided  Church.''''  God  was  better  to  hun  than  his 
prophecy,  and  he  lived  to  see  the  Reunion  crowned 
with  fruit.  Some  gave  free  expression  to  tlieir  doubts, 
as  to  several  details  of  the  plan,  touching  the  legal  sue- 


524  PRESBYTERIAN"    CHURCH. 

cession,  etc.     These  queries  were  all  well  and  satisfac- 
torily  answered. 

Dr.  Skinner,  Jr.  (O.  S.),  wished  to  know  whether 
"the  Confession  of  Faith"  was  to  be  understood  as  in- 
cluding "  the  Catechisms.''''  And  to  this  important  in- 
quiry Dr.  Atwater  replied  by  reading  from  the  Digest, 
and  showing  that  in  the  Assembly  of  1832,  before  the 
disruption,  this  question  was  settled  in  the  affirmative 
asfoUo'WS  : 

Resolved,  That  in  receiving  and  adopting  tlie  Confession  of  Faith,  as  con- 
taining the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  larger  and 
shorter  Catechisms  of  the  Westminster  Assembly  of  Divines  are  included,  and 
do  constitute  an  integral  part  of  the  Standards  of  this  Church. 

And  that  so  it  stands  as  the  law,  accepted  in  both 
branches,  for  the  whole  Church. 

The  leading  featui'e  in  this  Eeport  is  that  the  Stand- 
ards^ ^iire  and  shnjple^  are  made  the  Doctrinal  Basis 
without  any  explanatory  clause  whatever,  and  without 
any  other  article.  This  is  simply  falling  back  upon  the 
oi'iginal  platform,  in  the  preliminary  negotiations  of 
18G6:  "A  Keunion  upon  the  basis  of  the  Common 
Standards,  so  soon  as  a  mutual  confidence  would  seem 
to  justify  it."  This  "  mutual  confidence  "  was  now  ex- 
pressed in  the  preamble,  "  Each  recognizing  the  other 
as  a  sound  and  orthodox  hody^  according  to  the  princi- 
ples of  the  confession  common  to  hoth^ 

"This  clause  of  mutual  confidence  [says  Dr.  Stearns, 
in  his  Historical  Article]  was  the  only  one  which,  in  the 
reading  before  the  Old  School  Assembly,  was  greeted, 
with  a  spontaneous  applause."  We  happen  to  know 
that  when  this  clause  was  broached  in  the  Joint  Com- 
mittee, one  of  the  Old  School  members  privately  queried 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  525 

of  Dr.  Musgrave  whether  the  phraseology  would  not 
seem  to  be  quite  too  explicit  an  endorsement  of  Nevv- 
School  orthodoxy.  To  which  Dr.  Musgrave  replied,  that 
only  upon  this  explicit  statement^  that  each  so  "  reco(j. 
nizes  the  other  as  a  sound  and  orthodox  hody^  according 
to  the  principles  of  the  Confession,^''  could  he  consent 
to  tlie  Heunion,  and  only  so  could  it  he  well  and  pro- 
perly  advertised  heforehand,  that  the  United  Church 
could  never  consistently  tolerate  heresy. 

Another  special  feature  of  this  plan  is,  that  the  items 
of  readjustment  are  separated  entirely  fi-om  the  Basis,  in 
the  form  of  mutual  understandings,  as  "  Concuerent 
Declarations  of  the  General  Assemblies  of  1869." 
For  this  apt  title  the  Committee  were  indebted  to  Dr. 
R.  W.  Patterson,  of  Chicago. 

It  may  be  mentioned,  as  paii:  of  the  inside  history  of 
the  negotiations,  that  when  the  ^^  Joint  Suh- Committee''^ 
met  for  the  pm'pose  of  engrossing  what  had  been  passed 
upon  by  "  the  Joint  Committee  of  Conference,^''  and  to 
prepare  the  Report  to  the  Assembly,  one  of  the  members 
(N.  S.)  objected  to  the  insertion  of  the  words  con- 
tained in  the  preamble  to  the  Concurrent  Declarations, 
viz. :  "  Not  as  articles  of  compact,  or  covenant,  but  as, 
in  their  judgment,  proper  and  equitable  arrangements." 
He  admitted  that  the  language  fairly  expressed  what 
had  been  agreed  upon,  that  the  articles  referred  to  were 
merely  recommended,  and  if  adopted  by  the  United 
Church,  might,  hereafter,  for  good  and  sufficient  reasons, 
be  modified  or  repealed.  But  he  argued  that  the  inser- 
tion of  the  words  above  referred  to  would  make  the 
impression  that  the  articles  are  ephemeral,  and  would 
have  a  tendency  to  invite  change.     There  was  force  in 


526  PRESBTTERIAIf    CHURCH. 

the  objection.  But  to  this  it  was  well  replied,  that  the 
words  ought  to  be  inserted.  1.  Because  they  fairly  ex- 
press our  mutual  good  understandings.  2.  Because,  rf 
omitted,  it  might  be  hereafter  argued,  that  the  articles 
were  intended  to  be  a  compact  between  the  two  parties, 
which  could  not  be  honorably  modified  or  repealed.  3. 
Because  it  was  held  to  be  in  the  highest  degree  impor- 
tant, that  the  United  Church  should  be  left  entirely 
free  to  adapt  itself  to  any  changes  which,  in  the  future 
development  of  Providence,  might  be  deemed  either 
necessary  or  expedient.  This  difference  threatened  to 
be  a  stumbling-block  in  the  way,  even  within  reach  of 
the  goal.  At  this  very  crisis,  however,  an  eminent  lay- 
man of  the  New  School  Committee  joined  in  this  ^'iew 
of  the  case,  with  such  cogent  reasons  as  to  prove  the 
correctness  of  the  position.  Upon  re-examination  of 
the  paragraph,  the  dissent  was  revoked,  and  the  entire 
paper  was  then  adopted  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

This  meetino-  of  the  Joint  Sub-Committee  was  held 

o 

on  the  evening  preceding  the  day  of  presenting  the  Re- 
port to  the  General  Assembly.  And  it  was  not  until 
eleven   o'clock   at   nisrht  that   the   decisive   vote   was 

o 

reached,  in  the  Committee  room. 

These  concurrent  items  enter  into  the  plan,  not  as  any 
part  of  the  Basis,  but  yet,  as  honorable  understandings 
at  the  time,  indicating  the  view  of  these  consorting  As- 
semblies as  to  the  proper  mode  of  adjustment,  and  hence, 
not  to  be  departed  fi'om,  except  for  veiy  manifest  and 
sufficient  reasons.  It  was  seen  that  circumstances  might 
arise,  however  unanticipated,  which  might  make  it  emi- 
nently 'wise  and  proper  to  alter  or  repeal  some  of  these 
provisions.      Indeed,    this   very  judicious   disposal   of 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  527 

tliese  several  items,  wliicli  liad  formerly  been  so  many 
topics  of  debate,  facilitated  greatly  tlie  adoption  of  the 
Basis,  as  it  not  only  simplified  it,  but  relieved  it  from 
sundry  particulars  wliicli  could  not  as  yet  be  so  pos- 
itively determined,  and  which  could  better  be  trans- 
mitted to  the  United  Church  for  after  settlement.  Some, 
in  both  Assemblies,  were  perhaps  not  quite  willing  to 
leave  in  this  shape,  even  "with  a  five  years'  period  of 
grace,  the  question  of  the  mixed  Churches,  our  legacy 
from  the  plan  of  Union  of  1801.  But  this  was,  on  all 
hands,  felt  to  be  a  difficult  point,  requiring  delicate  treat- 
ment, and  not  capable  of  easy  issue.  And  here  the  set 
period  was  named  mth  notification  in  advance,  so  as  to 
plainly  assert  the  Constitutional  principle  of  Church 
polity,  and  to  restrict  the  divergence  within  this  nar- 
T'ow  limit. 

These  free  deliverances,  in  both  Assemblies,  had 
overpassed  the  morning  session,  and  occupied  the  en- 
tire afternoon,  leaving  only  time  for  the  vote,  before 
adjom-nment  for  the  day.  The  crowd  of  spectators 
waited  anxiously  upon  the  result,  —  all  the  more  as 
it  was  plainly  foretokened  by  the  respective  speakers 
what  the  decision  would  be.  The  excitement,  in  both 
houses,  rose  to  the  highest  pitch,  as  the  moment  drew 
nigh  for  the  poll.  In  the  New  School  Assembly,  there 
was  call  for  an  interval  of  silent  prayer  ;  and  then,  by 
a  rising  vote^  the  adoption  was  declared  unanimous. 
The  emotions  of  the  entire  body  were  brimming  over 
all  former  bounds.  In  the  Old  School  Assembly,  the 
vote  was  taken  by  ayes  and  nays.  On  the  negative 
part,  several  presented  their  reasons  in  detail.  One 
of    these    argued,   at    great    length,   the    heterodoxy 


528  PEESBXTERIAN    CHURCH. 

of  the  New  School  body,  adducing  excerpts  from  the 
former  wiitings  of  individuals,  —  some  of  them  long 
past,  —  and  citing  scattered  declarations  of  one  and 
another.  But  this  was  deemed  inconclusive,  unless  it 
could  be  shown  that  no  change  had  meanwhile  oc- 
cm-red  with  these,  and  that  these  were  accepted  repre- 
sentatives of  the  body.  Confessedly,  there  were  cita- 
tions, also,  from  more  recent  individual  deliverances, 
well  worthy  of  attention,  which,  in  so  far,  would  indi- 
cate serious  differences  in  the  construction  of  the  Stan- 
dards. But  it  could  not  be  shown  that  the  body,  as 
such,  was  represented  by  these,  or  implicated  in  them  ; 
and  this  was  the  point  to  be  proven.  There  was  no 
formal  protest  except  of  a  solitaiy  layman,  and  that 
on  the  ground,  among  others,  that  the  plan  proposed 
for  organizing  the  United  Assembly,  in  1870,  would 
imperil  the  legal  succession.  This  was  "important,  if 
true."  But  it  was  not  deemed  necessary  to  formally 
answer  the  protest,  —  though  in  its  terms  highly  re- 
spectful, —  inasmuch  as,  according  to  most  eminent 
legal  counsel,  the  plan  provided  for  the  succession  of 
both  Assemblies;  while,  as  respects  the  Joint  Mod- 
eratorship,  in  the  opening  of  the  first  Reunited  Assem- 
bly, and  its  organization,  the  functions  of  Moderator 
were  so  assigned  as  to  fix  the  legal  succession,  ac- 
cording to  the  pronounced  decision  of  the  highest 
Court  in  the  Commonwealth. 

At  the  count,  the  vote  in  the  Old  School  Assembly 
stood  285  to  9  !  Of  these  negatives, ^z;^  were  clerical, 
&Tidfour  were  lay! 

The  news  of  the  result,  so  harmoniously  reached  in 
both  Assemblies,  was  flashed  by  the  telegraph  all  over 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  529 

the  laud,  and  across  the  seas.  The  Reunion  was  virtually 
secured.  That  only  nine,  out  of  the  five  hundred  and 
sixty  enrolled  members  of  the  two  Assemblies,  were 
foimd  voting  in  the  negative,  was  surely  a  degree  of 
unanimity  most  marvellous,  and  quite  without  a  paral- 
lel in  the  annals  of  the  Church. 

OVERTURING  TO  THE   PRESBYTERIES. 

The  Plan  of  the  Joint  Committee  provided  for  over- 
turiug  to  the  Presbyteries  the  question  of  Reunion  in 
categorical  form,  to  loit:  "Do  you  approve  of  the 
Union  of  the  two  bodies  claiming  the  name  and  rights 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  on  the  following  Basis,  to  tuit :  The  Peuuion 
shall  be  effected  on  the  Doctrinal  and  Ecclesiastical 
Basis  of  our  Common  Standards.  The  Scriptures  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments  shall  be  acknowledged 
to  be  the  inspired  Word  of  God,  and  the  only  infal- 
lible Rule  of  Faith  and  Practice.  The  Confession  of 
Faith  shall  continue  to  be  sincerely  received  and 
adopted,  as  containing  the  system  of  doctrine  taught 
in  the  Holy  Scriptures;  and  the  Government  and 
Discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  shall  be  approved,  as  containing  the  principles 
and  rules  of  our  Polity." 

However  it  might  have  been  claimed  that  no  such 
reference  to  the  Presbyteries  was  necessary,  after  such 
explicit,  though  informal,  action  of  theirs  to  this  effect ; 
yet  it  was  eminently  vrise  to  satisfy  thus  the  protest,  in 
advance,  of  over  thirty  Presbyteries  in  the  Old  School 
Ijranch,  and  to  send  do^vn  the  Basis  for  formal  ap- 
proval. 

34 


530  PEESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

It  was  provided  that  a  two-thirds  vote  slioulcl  be 
sufficient,  —  not,  as  in  former  plans,  a  three-four '''is 
vote,  inasmuch  as,  in  such  case,  one-fourth  of  the 
Presbyteries  in  either  branch  could  defeat  the  measure. 

And  besides,  in  this  voting,  the  delinquent  Pres- 
byteries who,  for  any  reason,  might  return  no  vote, 
must  be  counted  in  the  negative,  a  three-fourths  actual 
affirmative  being  required. 

Many  in  the  Old  School,  at  least,  who  otherwise 
would  have  dissented  from  the  plan,  were  fully  com- 
mitted to  the  verdict  of  the  Church  thus  regularly 
to  be  pronounced.  The  great  objection,  vnih.  some, 
arose  from  the  necessary  delay  in  such  case,  when  the 
Assemblies  had  acted  now  so  harmoniously,  and  when 
all  was  so  ripe  for  consummation  on  the  spot.  But 
this  objection  was,  in  great  part,  relieved  by  the  novel 
expedient  of  adjourning  for  six  months  —  a  very  extra 
interval,  —  so  as  to  give  full  time  for  the  Presbyteries 
to  act,  and  yet  to  consummate  the  Union  by  these 
Assemblies,  and  without  the  necessity  of  postponing 
for  a  year.  This  feature  of  the  ]3lan  was  not  seriously 
opposed,  but  leather  welcomed,  as  forestalling  appre- 
hended difficulties  of  delay,  and  conciliating  many 
who  else  would  have  opposed.  It  was,  indeed,  alto- 
gether a  most  happy  expedient,  entirely  justified  by 
the  case  in  hand,  and  securing  the  best  results.  The 
woi'king  of  this  extra  adjournment  was  much  inquired 
into,  so  many  not  seeming  able  readily  to  apprehend  it 
as  a  simple  adjoiu^nment.  Questions  were  already 
started,  as  to  seats  that  might  possibly  be  vacated  by 
principals^  whether  they  could  be  filled  by  alternates 
already  chosen,  or   whether   new   elections  woidd   be 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  531 

re(;[ulsite,  or  allowable,  to  j^rovide  for  sucli  vacancies. 
In  the  Old  School  branch,  alternates  were  allowed,  — 
and  only  such,  —  who  had  heen  already  chosen^  to  fill 
the  place  of  absent  principals.  In  the  New  School, 
newly-elected  Commissioners  were  required  in  such 
cases.  By  the  strict  construction,  the  Assembly  being 
the  same,  not  dissolved  as  usual,  but  only  adjourned 
for  six  months  as  if  for  a  day,  the  Commissioners 
must  be  elected  prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly. 
Yet,  exceptionally,  the  other  method  of  supplying 
vacancies  was  also  held  to  be  admissible.  The  in- 
stances in  question  were  not  numerous  enough  to 
seriously  affect  the  identity  of  the  body  in  either 
house. 

What  remained  was  now  to  commit  the  goodly 
movement,  as  thus  far  so  harmoniously  advanced,  to 
the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  so  to  direct  and  control 
the  Presbyterial  action,  in  both  bodies,  as  to  secm'e 
the  best  result.  It  was  with  high  gratulation,  and 
with  special  solemnity,  that  the  Old  School  Assembly 
was  led  in  prayer  by  the  Rev.  A.  G.  Hall,  D.D.,  and 
adjourned  at  six  o'clock.  The  New  School  Assembly 
was  led  in  special  thanksgiving  by  the  Rev.  Thomas 
H.  Skinner,  Sr.,  D.D.,  and  adjourned  at  about  the  same 
hour.     Thus  ended  Thm-sday,  May  27th,  1869  ! 

On  the  following  morning  (Friday),  a  joint  prayer- 
meeting  of  the  two  Assemblies  was  held  for  one  houi* 
in  the  Church  of  the  Covenant.  Of  course,  at  this 
advanced  stage  of  the  Reunion,  after  the  great  event 
of  the  day  preceding,  the  united  supplications  were 
most  fervent,  and  the  flowing  together  of  the  two 
bodies  was  more  manifest  than   before.     The  feelinor 


532  PEESBYTERIAN   CIIUKCH. 

of  oneness  was  no  longer  restrained ;  for,  as  concerned 
these  representatives  of  tlie  two  Churclies,  tliey  had 
ah'eady,  ^vith  scarce  an  individual  exception,  expressed 
their  wish  to  be  one.  And  even  the  few  dissenting 
brethren  joined  earnestly  in  the  public  prayer,  and 
expressed  theii*  strong  desire  also  for  Union. 

Delegations  from  each  Assembly  to  the  other  now 
appeared,  and  formally  amiounced  the  vote.  This  was 
again  the  occasion  of  pleasant  interchanges  and  respon- 
ses, vvdth  new  assurance  of  fi-aternal  regard. 

The  following  letter  from  the  other  Assembly  was 
read : 

To  the  Modeirttor  of  the  Oeneral  Asseinbly  meeting  at  the  Brick  ChnrcJi,  New 
York. 

Reverend  and  Dear  Brother. — It  gives  me  pleasure  to  inform  you.  as 
instructed  by  the  General  Assembly  meeting  at  the  Church  of  the  Covenant, 
New  York,  that  the  report  of  the  Joint  Committee  of  twenty  on  Reunion 
was,  at  the  close  of  the  Sessions  of  the  Assembly  this  afternoon,  unanimously 
adopted,  and  that  the  Hon.  WiUiam  Strong,  and  the  Rev.  William  Adams, 
D.  D. ,  were  apijointed  to  communicate  this  action  to  the  venerable  Assembly 
over  which  you  jireside. 

By  order  of  the  General  Assembly. 

,     Ed-win  F.  Hatfield, 

Stated  Clerk. 
Church  of  the  Covenant,  May  27t7i,,  1869. 

Judge  Strong  (of  Pa.),  fi'om  that  Assembly,  was  then 
introduced,  and  received  with  applause.  After  gi™g 
verbal  notice  of  the  fact,  contained  in  the  above  letter, 
lie  proceeded  to  say  that  they  had  all  yearned  for  years 
to  consummate  the  union  which  is  now  in  a  fair  way 
of  accomplishment,  a  union  of  faith,  of  sentiment,  of 
doctrine,  and  practice.  And  in  order  to  secure  these 
blessings  they  will  follow  the  recommendations  of  tlie 
Committee  of  Conference,  and  study  the  things  tliat 
make  for  peace. 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  533 

Dr.  Adams  stepped  forward,  and  paid  liigli  eulogy 
to  Dr.  Musgrave,  and  said  that  if  tlie  Old  School  had 
any  more  such  cannon,  throwing  fifteen-inch  shells,  they 
need  no  addition  to  their  numbers.  He  was  especially 
moved  on  meeting  Dr.  Musgrave,  whose  memory  he 
had  associated  with  former  strifes  and  controversies, 
but  whom  he  had  known  as  a  faithful  adherent  to  his 
own  convictions,  as  one  of  the  pi'incipal  leaders  in  the 
movement  for  Reunion.  And  now,  for  all  of  the  Church, 
the  noble  service  is  left  to  finish  what  had  been  so 
earnestly  and  so  successfully  begun,  for  the  good  of  the 
kin.Q^dom  of  Christ. 

Dr.  M.  W.  Jacobus  responded  as  follows : 

Deak  Brethren. —  Every  step  in  this  matter  of  Reunion  becomes  omy 
the  more  blessed  occasion  for  the  descent  upon  us  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Uvrng 
God.  How  blessed  are  eren  these  interchanges  of  notification  !  Onr  Com- 
mittee has  appeared  before  your  Assembly,  as  you  appear  before  us,  to  an- 
nounce this  marvellous  unanimity  that  has  prevailed  with  the  Committees  of 
Conference.  Union  and  Reunion  are  the  order  of  the  day.  It  is  the  will  of 
God  among  us,  manifestly.  We  cannot  affirm  that  the  delegates  of  this  large 
body  have  all  been  able  to  say  aye  to  the  report  of  the  Committee.  The  ven- 
erable father  of  this  Assembly,  Dr.  Spring,  thought  for  a  moment  that  he  must 
say  ruty.  But  it  was  only  because  he  was  more  oye  than  any  of  us.  Not  that 
he  was  opposed  to  Reunion,  but  because  he  was  opposed  to  any  postponemeu-' 
of  the  Reunion.  Others  who  have  given  in  their  nay  have  expressed  theii 
reasons,  which  we  can  appreciate ;  and  considering  the  circumstances,  and 
the  larger  number  of  our  body,  the  unanimity  is  as  marvellous  and  God-in- 
spired perhaps  with  us  as  with  you.  We  bless  God  for  this  hour.  We  do 
confidently  expect,  as  we  look  forward  through  the  next  six  months,  to  hear 
aU  along  through  this  broad  land,  from  the  Canadas  to  Mexico,  and  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  the  loud  and  cordial  Amen  of  Ratification.  And  in 
November  next  we  will  welcome  you  as  you  wlLL  welcome  us,  to  our  city  of 
Pittsbiu-g,  in  the  region  that  hiis  been  familiarly  caUed  the  "backbone  of 
Presbyterianism,"  and  we  will  strike  hands  together  there  on  that  spot  where 
symbolically  and  beautifully  the  Allegheny  flows  into  the  Monongahela,  and 
the  Monongahela  flows  into  the  Allegheny,  to  make  the  broad  Ohio,  rolling  on 
into  the  Mississippi,  and  swelling  that  noble  and  majestic  river  into  the  Gulf. 


534  PRESBYTEr.iA:;  church. 

JOINT   CO:\DIUNIOX  SEASOX. 

It  was  deemed  only  most  fitting  that,  at  this  stage  of 
pleasant  and  hallowed  interchanges,  a  Joint  Commuision 
Season  should  be  held  now  upon  the  day  following  the 
Reunion  vote  of  the  Assemblies.  On  this  Friday  after- 
noon, at  three  o'clock,  the  solemn  service  took  place  in 
the  Brick  Chui'ch.  The  Moderators  jointly  presided. 
The  body  of  the  house  —  even  the  aisles  —  was  filled 
Avith  communicants.  The  galleries  Avere  thi'onged  ^vith 
guests,  many  of  whom  were  also  communicating  chm'ch- 
members.  It  was  an  horn-  so  truly  refreshing  with  the 
dew  of  Hermon  on  the  mountains  of  Zion,  that,  with  a 
most  signal  manifestation,  the  Lord  commanded  the 
blessing.  The  Venerable  Dr.  Spring  oitered  the  Sacra- 
mental prayer,  and  distributed  the  bread ;  and  it  was 
as  if  Moses  or  Elias  had  come  down  to  talk  on  that 
Transfigui-ation  Mount  of  the  decease  accomplished  at 
Jerusalem. 

Dr.  Shaw  (N.  S.)  delivered  earnest  and  tender  words 
of  address,  followed  by  Dr.  Taylor,  of  Cincinnati  (1^.  S.), 
distributing  the  Cup ;  and  by  Dr.  Anderson (O.  S.),  of  In- 
diana, in  a  closing  appeal.  It  could  scarcely  have  been 
more  impressive  as  a  spectacle,  or  more  i-avishing  as  a 
holy  feast.  The  place  was  called  by  one  and  another, 
Bethel  and  Peniel.  It  was  a  well,  and  it  was  named 
Beerslieha.,  Iteliohot\  and  3eer-la-liai  JRoi. 

This  season  of  Communion  was  all  the  more  enjoyed 
because  there  were  many  who  remembered  that  duiing 
the  years  of  separation,  such  a  Sacramental  meeting  of 
the  two  Assemblies  had  been  proposed,  but  was  declined, 
as  being  witliout precedent. 

The  Joint  Prayer  Meeting  held  on  Saturday  morning. 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  585 

in  the  Biick  Cliui'cli,  was  very  largely  attended,  and 
the  devotions  of  the  United  bodies  were  enthusiastic. 

The  tidings  had  now  gone  abroad,  and  the  sympathy 
of  other  Christian  bodies  was  deeply  stirred  and  sought 
exj3ression. 

The  following  despatch  was  received  and  read  : 

Newark,  Omo,  May  28,  1869. 
The  General  Assemblies  of  tlie  Old  and  New  Scliool  Presbyterians  in  the  City 
of  New  York :  — 

The  Synod  of  the  Welsh  Calvinistic  Methodists  greeting  the  brethren.  2 
Thess. ,  first  chap. ,  third  and  first  clause  of  fourth  verse,  and  2  Corinth. ,  thir- 
teenth chap. ,  eleventh,  twelfth,  and  thirteenth  verses. 

E.  T.  EVAIJS,  Moderator. 

David  Harris,  Secretary. 

The  verses  referred  to  were  read  by  Rev.  Dr.  Eodgers, 
as  follows : 

We  are  bound  to  thank  God  always  for  you,  brethren,  as  it  is  meet,  because 
that  your  faith  groweth  exceedingly,  and  the  charity  of  every  one  of  you  all 
toward  each  other  aboundeth. 

So  that  we  ourselves  glory  in  you  in  the  chiu-ches  of  God. 

Finally,  brethren,  farewell.  Be  perfect,  be  of  good  comfort,  be  of  one 
mind,  live  in  peace ;  and  the  God  of  love  and  peace  shall  be  with  you. 

Greet  one  another  with  a  holy  kiss. 

AU  the  saints  salute  you. 

The  despatch  was  received  with  much  satisfaction  by 
the  Assembly,  and  Henry  Day,  Esq.,  was  appointed  a 
committee  to  prepare  an  answer.  Before  adjourmnent, 
he  reported  the  following,  as  the  joint  answer  of  the 
two  Assemblies,  which  was  adopted  and  ordered  to  be 
transmitted : 

That  the  General  Assemblies,  now  convened  in  the  city  of  New  York,  return 
their  cordial  and  Christian  salutations  to  the  Synod  of  the  Calvinistic  Method- 
ists now  sitting  in  the  City  of  Newark,  Ohio,  and  we  express  to  them  our  best 
wishes  and  desires  in  the  words  of  Moses  to  Hobab,  Numbers  x.  29:  "We 
are  journeying  unto  the  place  of  which  the  Lord  said,  I  wiU  give  it  you. 


536  PKESBTTEKIAI^    CHIJRCH. 

Come  thou  with  us,  and  we  wHl  do  thee  good  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  spoken  good 
concerning  IsraeL" 

This  fitting  reply  by  Mr.  Day  was  wrongly  credited 
by  the  press  to  the  Eev.  Dr.  Stearns,  of  I\ewark. 
The  N.  Y.  Tribune  entitled  this  Biblical  Telegraphic 
Correspondence,  "  Apples  of  Gold,  in  pictm-es  (baskets) 
of  Silver." 

A  Delegation  fi^om  the  Evangelical  Church  of  Bohe- 
mia was  received,  and  one  of  them.  Dr.  Von  Tardy, 
said  in  the  Old  School  Assembly  as  follows : 

I  especially  congratulate  myself  that  I  am  here  just  at  this  interesting  juno 
tiu"e,  when  these  two  bodies,  not  two  but  one,  standing  upon  a  common  foun- 
dation, are  upon  the  ijoint  of  unitiug  themselves  upon  the  common  f  ovmda- 
tion  of  Christ  and  his  Apostles,  Christ  being  the  corner-stone,  thus  showing 
that  perfect  faith  works  love,  and  love  itself  together  with  faith  is  the  perfect 
token  of  the  children  of  God.  I  then  come  here  for  the  express  purpose  of 
being  quickened  and  refreshed. 

A  Deles^ation  from  the  Methodist  Preachers'  Meet- 
ing,  composed  of  one  hundred  ministers  in  New  York 
and  vicinity,  was  received,  consisting  of  the  Ilev.  Drs. 
Curry  and  Ridgway,  and  Rev.  Mr.  King.  The  follow- 
ing paper  was  read : 

The  New  York  Preachers'  Meeting,  composed  of  one 
hundi-ed  pastors  of  the  Methodist  churches  in  New 
York  and  vicinity,  have  adopted  the  follo^^^ng  minute : 

Whereas,  The  General  Assemblies  of  both  branches  of  the  great  Presby- 
terian family  are  now  in  session  in  the  city,  we  take  pleasure  in  sendiag  to 
them  our  fraternal  greeting  and  assurances  of  our  Christian  love  and  fellow- 
ship. We  rejoice  with  them  in  the  prospect  of  a  speedy  reunion  of  the  two 
branches  of  their  communion,  and  pray  that  their  prosperity  in  the  future 
may  be  even  greater  than  it  has  been  in  the  past.  We  also  express  the  deep 
conviction  that  the  time  has  fully  come  when  all  Evangelical  chiu'chcs,  for- 
getting the  sad  estrangement  of  the  past,  should  come  nearer  together,  and 
united  in  heart,  aid  in  maintaining  thi'oughout  this  land  a  sovmd  morahty 


TILE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  537 

against  vice,  intemperance,  and  Sabbath  desecration  ;  and  a  pure  religion 
against  Ritualism  and  Popery.  We  hope  the  day  is  near  at  hand  when  frater- 
nal relations  will  be  established  between  these  two  great  churches,  with  a 
mutual  interchange  of  friendly  delegates  between  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  and  the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  we  respectfully  suggest  that  the  General  Assembly  of  1870 
appoint  such  delegate  to  meet  with  our  General  Conference,  which  wiU  con- 
vene in  Brooklyn,  May  1,  1871. 

In  reply,  tlie  Moderator,  Dr.  Jacobus,  said : 

The  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Chm-ch  reciprocates  the  Chris- 
tian salutations  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States. 
The  Church  of  John  Calvin  responds  to  the  Church  of  John  Wesley,  in  the 
name  of  oxir  common  Lord  and  Head.  We  are  engaged  in  a  common  conflict 
against  irreligion.  It  is  a  conflict  of  Christianity  against  aU  the  powers  and 
forces  of  antichrist.  It  is  a  conflict  of  true  religion  against  iiTcligion  and 
false  religion.  We  rejoice  in  the  great  work  which  your  large  aud  active 
Church  has  been  able  to  accomplish  in  our  land.  All  the  agencies  and  re- 
sources of  the  Christian  Church  are  needed  at  this  critical  moment.  And  we 
hope  soon  to  hail  the  tune  when  the  final  conquest  of  our  King  Jesus  shall  be 
proclauned  in  aU  the  land  and  in  aU  the  world. 

THE   SOUTHERN  CHURCH. 

Amidst  so  many  and  sucli  cordial  congratulations  in 
wliicli  tlie  Spirit  of  a  Revived  Cliurcli  seemed  to  be 
awakened  aud  further  foretokened  by  tlie  Spirit  of 
Union,  it  was  not  at  all  vv'onderf  ul  tliat  the  heart  of  the 
Old  School  Assembly  should  go  out  towards  the  alien- 
ated brethren  of  the  Southern  Church.  A  Committee 
had  already  been  appointed  to  report  upon  the  impor- 
tant subject  of  Reunion  with  the  Presbyterian  Chm-ch 
of  the  South. 

The  Rev.  A.  A.  E.  Taylor,  late  of  Georgeto\\Ti,  D.  C, 
introduced  the  following  resolution  on  this  subject : 

Whereas,  The  last  General  Assembly  acknowledged  the  separate  and  inde- 
pendent existence  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  Southern  States,  and 
enjoined  upon  aU  subordinate  courts   so  to  treat  it,  thus  according  to  ita 


538  PRESBYTERIAlSr    CIIURCn. 

ministera  and  members  the  privilege  of  admission  into  our  body  upon  the  same 
terms  which  are  extended  to  the  ministers  and  members  of  other  branches  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church ;    therefore 

Besolocd,  That  this  General  Assembly  hereby  conveys  its  Christian  saluta 
tions  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  Southern 
States,  and  gives  expression  to  its  sentiments  of  Christian  fraternity  and  fel- 
lowship toward  the  ministers  and  members  of  that  body.  And  as  we  inherit 
and  hold  with  them  the  same  ancient  symbols  of  faith,  the  same  forms  oi 
government  and  of  worship,  thus  representing  before  the  world  the  same 
sacred  principles  which  our  common  ancestors  witnessed,  and  which  we  have 
maintained  in  the  past,  and  especially  since  we  occupy  adjacent,  and  in  many 
places,  common  territory',  we  deem  it  due  to  our  one  Lord,  and  to  the  best  in- 
terests of  his  kingdom  on  earth,  to  express  the  desire  that  the  day  may  not  be 
distant  when  we  may  be  again  united  in  one  great  organization  that  shall 
cover  our  whole  land,  and  embrace  all  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Hesolved,  That  the  Stated  Clerk  be  directed  to  forward  a  copy  of  this  reso- 
lution to  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  Southern 
States. 

This  manifesto  was  thus  eminently  fraternal  —  an 
honest,  earnest  expression  of  desire,  "  That  the  day  may 
not  be  distant  when  we  may  be  again  united  in  one 
great  organization,  etc.,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church." 
It  was  the  yearning  for  Reunion  extending  itself,  and 
growing  only  more  intense  and  mde-spread,  by  its  in- 
cipient  gratification.  It  could  be  thought  of  here,  only 
in  a  spirit  of  mutual  concession  —  on  the  ground  of  ig- 
noring past  complaints,  and  bmying  old  differences  — 
as  in  the  Reunion  North  —  nothing  more  said  of  old, 
"  dead  issues  —  nothing  now  charged  of  heresies  or  of 
excisions  —  no  confessions,  nor  retractions  called  for  on 
either  side."  A  poor  way  to  make  peace  is  by  taking 
up  the  war  again.  The  only  question  could  now  be, 
not  whether  the  Northern  Chm'ch,  from  which  the  South 
had  separated,  —  was  ready  —  for  that  was  most  plainly 
declared  —  but  whether  the  Southern  Church  would  be 
found  ready,  for  the  Reunion,  or  for  any  positive  step 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  539 

in  that  direction.  It  was  intimated,  at  this  juncture,  by 
the  Stated  Clerk,  Dr.  McGill,  that  in  an  informal  cor- 
resjDondence,  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Church  South,  had 
rather  deprecated  the  agitation  of  this  question,  at 
present,  as  likely  to  disturb  the  peace  of  their  chui'ches. 
But  it  was  felt  that,  however  this  overture  might  be 
treated  at  the  present,  the  time  must  come  when  well- 
advised  efforts  at  peace  will  not  imperil  the  peace  of 
Christ's  house,  but  will  avail  to  restore  it,  for  it  is  "s^Tit- 
ten,  as  it  was  spoken  by  the  Master  himself,  "  Blessed 
are  ihe  peaceinakers^  for  they  shall  be  called  the  chil- 
dren of  GocV 

This  movement  in  the  New  York  Assembly  was  at 
least  in  good  faith,  and  it  went  the  full  length  of  com- 
mitting that  body  to  the  Eeunion,  and  of  taking  the  in- 
itiative in  so  good  a  cause.  And  so  far,  it  was,  indeed, 
a  great  step  in  advance.  And  though  that  body  would 
form  only  a  portion  of  subsequent  Assemblies  in  the 
Reunited  Church,  yet  they  have  put  themselves  upon 
the  record  that  so  far  as  in  them  lies,  they  crave  a 
return  to  the  old  fi-aternal  relations  as  of  one  grand 
Presbyterian  Church. 

When  the  French  ai'chitect  was  repairing  the  mosque 
of  St.  Sophia,  at  Constantinople,  he  asked  of  the  Sul- 
tan the  privilege  to  remove  the  whitewash  which  cov- 
ered the  ancient  Christian  emblems  that  adorned  the 
ceiling  of  that  chm'ch  of  the  silver-tongued  Chiysostom, 
and  the  Sultan  replied  "  The  time  has  not  come  yetr 
But  we  say  the  time  is  coming,  and  must  come,  when 
our  holy  and  our  beautiful  house  w^here  our  fathers 
worshipped  must  be  restored  fi'om  floor  to  ceiling,  and 
when  the  emblems  of  cm*  Christianity,  that  have  been 


540  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

covered  mth  divers  washes  of  the  hour,  must  be  made 
to  appear  again.  And  no  man,  nor  set  of  men,  can 
possibly  prevent  this  blessed  result. 

The  Moderator  of  the  late  Established  Kirk  of  Scot- 
land Assembly,  Dr.  Norman  McLeod,  in  his  closing 
addi'ess  to  that  body,  said,  "Not  for  the  sake  of  my 
Church,  but  rather  for  the  sake  of  our  common  country 
and  common  Chiistianity,  I  would  refuse  to  be  an  Old 
Mortality,  restoring  and  keeping  fi-esh  the  deep  and 
sharp-cut  lines  on  the  monuments  reared  by  us  all,  on  our 
old  Ecclesiastical  battle-fields,  but  would  rather  leave 
them  to  be  quietly  covered  by  time  and  a  genial  heaven, 
with  their  benevolent  ministrations  of  green  moss  and 
lichen  —  emblems  of  that  Christian  charity  Vv'hich  cov- 
ereth  a  multitude  of  sins." 

At  this  very  time,  the  Southern  Assembly  ^vas  in 
session  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  with  over  one  hundi*ed  Com- 
missioners. 

Since  this  writing,  we  regret  to  add  that  a  more 
special  overture  of  the  first  Reunited  Assembly,  borne 
by  a  most  conciliatory  delegation,  has  been  answered 
by  declinatui'e  and  "indictment,"  yet  though  the  As- 
sembly was  carried  for  such  an  unhappy  response,  we 
rejoice  to  know  that  it  was  not  mthout  strong  and 
manly  protests,  and  not  wdthout  a  feeling  of  Christian 
re\ailsion  in  the  ministry  and  membership  at  large, 
which  will  soon,  we  trust,  make  itself  felt  in  another 
Assembly  of  the  Southern  Chui-ch,  that  we  may  be  one 
again,  beyond  the  reach  of  any  poor,  political  complica- 
tion —  the  Church  one  for  the  nation's  sake,  and  the 
nation  one  for  the  Church's  sake. 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.        '  541 

THE   REFORIMED   CHURCH  NATIONAL   COUNCIL. 

From  still  another  quarter,  another  and  important 
movement  for  Union  of  the  Churches  indicated  the 
spirit  of  the  time. 

A  communication  was  received  and  adopted  by  botii 
Assemblies  fi'om  the  General  Synod  of  the  Eeformed 
(Dutch)  Chui'ch,  proposing  a  National  Council  of 
Evangelical  Chm^ches,  for  mutual  strengthening  and 
defence,  and  for  promotion  of  the  common  cause  of 
Christianity  versus  Antichrist : 

It  is  the  conviction  of  this  Synod,  that  wholesome  fraternal  measures  maj 
be  adopted  for  combining  and  unifying  the  Evangelical  denominations  in  sup- 
port of  the  common  doctrines  of  Christianity,  without  involving  any  surrender 
of  the  distinctive  features  and  individual  characteristics  of  these  denomina- 
tions. 

The  state  of  Christianity  in  our  countiy,  in  its  relation  to  antichristian 
forces,  seems  to  encourage  an  effort  to  secure  a  co-operation  among  all  who 
"  hold  the  faith,"  in  measures  fitted  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  times. 

Hoping  that  your  reverend  body  may  be  willing  to  take  the  action  sug- 
gested in  the  preceding  paper,  we  subscribe  ourselves  as 
Yours  in  fraternal  bonds, 

Elbert  S.  Porter, 

Pres't  of  General  Synod. 
David  D.  Demarest, 
Nm  York,  May,  1869.  Stated  Clerk. 

The  following  action  was  taken  by  the  New  School 
Assembly,  on  the  proposal  for  a  general  Christian 
Council,  submitted  by  the  Eeformed  Church  (this  is  a 
report  fi'om  Dr.  Maxwell's  Special  Committee)  : 

Recognizing  this  proposition  as  a  part  of  the  great  movement  of  our  day, 
which  is  seeking  better  to  express  the  essential  unity  of  the  Church  of  Christ, 
and  to  bring  about  that  organic  unity  toward  which  we  have  just  taken  so 
important  a  step,  we  regard  it  as  one  eminently  fitting  to  be  entertained. 
Our  ovni  hearts  have  felt  most  convincingly  the  influences  of  that  Spirit  when 
in  joint  supplications  for  the  reunion  of  our  separated  Presbyterian  family. 
Mutual  love  and  confidence  fill  the  hearts  of  beUevers.     The  spirit  of  wisdom 


542  presbyteria:?^  church. 

seems  to  be  imparted  to  our  councils  for  reunion,  and  from  all  branches  of  the 
Church  the  prayer  is  going  up  for  a  speedy  realization  of  that  oneccss  fol 
which  our  Redeemer  prayed.  And  when  God  so  manifestly  points  the  way 
and  opens  the  path  where  was  a  sea  of  difSculties  before,  it  is  for  His  people 
to  go  forward.  Great  good  may  also  result  from  the  adoption  of  some  such 
plan.  In  a  common  profession  of  the  essentials  of  our  common  faith ;  in  the 
promotion  of  wholesome  discipline  and  mutual  co-operation  therein ;  in  devi- 
sing means  of  practical  evangelism ;  in  borrowing  life  from  every  part,  and  in 
diffusing  it  through  all  the  members  of  the  common  body ;  in  presenting  a 
common  front  to  a  common  foe ;  in  such  prospects  of  vast  good  accomplished, 
we  see  a  motive  for  acceding  to  the  proposition  submitted.     Therefore, 

Hesolved,  That  five  representatives  of  this  body,  three  ministers  and  two 
laymen,  be  appointed  to  meet  similar  representatives  from  other  bodies  on 
the  third  Tuesday  of  October,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  provided  the  higher 
Judicatories  and  Assemblies  of  sister  churches  accede  to  the  proposition. 

Similar  action  was  taken  by  tlie  other  brancli,  and 
Delegates  were  appointed  likewise. 

Still  another  announcement  in  the  same  direction 
was  made  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  I.  Prime,  representing  the 
Evangelical  Alliance,  a  Protestant  Ecumenical  Council, 
to  assemble  in  the  autumn  of  1870,  in  the  city  of  New 
York: 

The  Evangelical  Alliance  in  this  country  has  called  the  various  Christians 
of  all  denominations  to  meet  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  the  autumn  of  this 
year ;  and  it  has  also  invited  a  conference  of  Evangelical  Christians,  from  aU 
the  nations  of  the  earth,  to  meet  in  this  city,  in  the  autumn  of  1S70.  We 
have  now  an  agent  in  Europe,  Rev.  Dr.  Schaff,  who  is  making  arrangements 
with  the  brethren  in  England,  and  in  Germany,  and  in  HoUand,  and  in  Swit- 
zerland, and  in  other  coimtries,  to  be  represented  at  that  conference  ;  and  we 
have  no  doubt  that,  with  God's  blessing,  it  vnR  be  not  only  one  of  the  most 
interesting,  but  one  of  the  most  useful  assemblages  of  Christians  ever  held  in 
this  country,  and  perhaps  in  the  world.  I  cotmt  it  a  great  joy  to  be  per- 
mitted to  commend  the  operations  of  this  institution  to  the  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  to  ask  that,  in  your  several  spheres  of  usefulness, 
in  the  several  cities  and  towns  in  which  you  reside,  you  wiU  make  kno^vn  its 
character  and  its  operations,  and  that  these  conferences  may  be  understood. 
We  hope  that  your  several  localities  wUl  be  represented  in  it,  and  that  we 
may  bring  together  Christians  from  all  parts  of  this  covmtry,  and  then  in  the 
following  year  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  who  will  unite  their  hearts  and 
their  hands  in  the  great  work  which  the  Alliance  sets  before  it. 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  543 

At  the  conclusion  of  Dr.  Prime's  addi'ess,  the  follow- 
ing paper,  introduced  by  Eev.  John  Hall,  D.D.,  was 
adopted : 

Revived,  1.  That  this  Assembly  has  heard  with  great  satisfaction  that  the 
Evangelical  Alliance  of  the  United  States  has  invited  a  Conference  of  Evan- 
gelical Christians  in  this  country,  to  meet  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  the  en- 
suing autumn,  and  a  general  Conference  of  Evangelical  Christians  in  all  the 
earth,  to  assemble  in  the  same  city  of  New  York,  in  the  autumn  of  1870 ;  and 
it  will  unite  its  prayers  with  those  of  Christ's  people  everywhere,  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  may  guide  their  counsels  and  lead  to  wise  results  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 

Resolved,  2.  That  the  principles  of  the  Protestant  Reformation,  identified  as 
they  are  with  the  progress  of  religious  liberty,  education,  and  Christianity  in 
the  earth,  are  increasingly  precious  in  our  eyes,  and  we  call  upon  our  minis- 
ters and  people  to  watch  with  jealous  care  the  efforts  of  Romanism  in  the 
United  States,  and  by  the  employment  of  all  suitable  means,  to  resist  insidi- 
ous attempts  of  Roman  Catholics  to  obtain  undue  influence  in  this  coimtry. 

And  now  the  time  for  adjournment  was  at  hand. 

The  closing  scenes  in  both  Assemblies  were  truly  im- 
pressive. Parting  to  meet  again,  if  God  should  so 
please,  in  a  distant  city,  a  six  months  hence.  And  yet 
to  think  of  possible  vacancies  in  the  seats  of  the  Com- 
missioners ! 

Careful  and  detailed  pro\asion  had  been  made  con- 
currently in  both  Assemblies,  for  securing  from  the 
Presbyteries  a  categorical  answer  to  the  questions  over- 
tured  in  the  plan,  so  as  that  a  full  return  might  be 
made  to  the  November  meeting. 

The  New  School  Assembly  adjourned  on  the  tenth 
day,  and  the  Old  School  Assembly  on  the  eleventh  day 
of  their  sessions  at  evening,  to  reassemble  in  the  city  of 
Pittsburg,  on  the  tenth  day  of  November,  in  the  Third 
and  First  Presbyterian  Churches,  respectively.  The 
members  of  both  bodies  had   been  held  together  in 


544  PKESBYTEKIA'N   CHURCH. 

unusually  full  numbers  till  the  close,  and  bejond  the 
adjournment  of  tlie  New  School,  many  remained  to 
witness  tlie  conclusion  of  the  other  Assembly.  In  the 
nature  of  the  case,  such  Ecclesiastical  proceedings, 
whose  harmony  had  been  so  unbroken,  left  little  of  the 
wearied,  worn-out  feeling  that  ensues  upon  mere  rou- 
tine transactions  of  Church  Coui'ts.  The  two  houses 
had  both  been  banqueting  houses,  and  the  banner  over 
both  of  them  had  been  loa^e. 

The  hospitalities  of  New  York  Christians  had  been 
displayed  in  the  spirit  of  a  large-heai'ted  Christianity. 
And  no  pen  can  adequately  detail  the  thousand  pleas- 
ing incidents  occurring  daily  at  the  tables  of  the  gen- 
erous entertainers.  Besides,  it  was  quite  a  specialty 
of  the  occasion,  that  soirees  were  given  at  private 
houses,  in  which  groups  of  a  score  or  two  from  the  t^vo 
Assemblies  were  gathered  round  the  table,  with  Chris- 
tian cheer,  followed  by  genial  rounds  of  address  and 
personal  reminiscences  of  Reunion  movements.  Who 
that  had  the  happiness  of  being  present  at  the  dejeuner 
of  Dr.  Adams,  or  of  Mr.  Heniy  Day,  will  ever  forget 
the  graceful  challenge  and  genial  repartee,  and  the  im- 
promptu address  and  response  all  roimd  the  cii'cle,  that 
brought  smiles  and  tears  in  quick  succession.  Such 
l)rimming  emotions  at  length  as  broke  the  alabaster 
box  and  filled  the  room  with  the  odor  of  the  ointment. 
And,  not  to  mention  other  names,  it  may  be  allowed  to 
refer  to  like  Christian  refreshino^s  at  Dr.  E.  P.  Roo-ers', 
of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  Heniy  M.  Alexander 
and  James  Bro^^m,  Esqs.,  where  elegant  hospitali- 
ties were  la\dshed  upon  the  guests  of  both  branches. 

Members  lingered  as  if  reluctant  to  leave  the  spot 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  645 

consecrated  by  such  tlirice  tappy  meetings.  And  they 
looked  with  confident  forecast  over  the  six  months  in- 
terval, to  the  reassembling  at  Pittsburg,  to  receive 
from  the  Presbyteries  the  word  of  ratification.  Already 
the  marriage  covenant  was  signed  by  the  high  con- 
tracting parties.  It  seemed  only  a  signature  of  the 
witnesses  and  a  marriage  certificate  that  was  fm'ther 
requisite.  And  Pittsburg  was  already  looked  to  as  the 
city  which  should  be  honored  with  celebrating  the  rare 
nuptials. 

Such  unanimity  as  had  characterized  the  action  of 
both  Assemblies  left  little  doubt  on  the  minds  of  any, 
that  the  Presbyteries  would  return  the  requisite  major- 
ity and  more,  in  favor  of  the  plan  as  overtm-ed  by  the 
Assembly.  Nevertheless,  there  was  anxiety  until  the 
result  should  be  fixed  beyond  any  peradventm'e.  Si- 
lent Presbyteries  were  to  be  counted  with  the  negative, 
because  a  clear  afiirmative  vote  of  two-tMrds  was 
required.  Besides  this,  the  foreign  and  frontier  Pres- 
byteries might  not  act,  or  not  in  season.  Still  further, 
some  dissent  would  certainly  show  itself  in  a  few  Pres- 
byteries, though  there  was  no  token  of  organized  or 
concerted  o])position.  And  any  negative  vote  heyond 
ane-tliird  of  eitlier  Assembly^  which  might,  indeed,  be 
less  than  one-sixth  of  the  whole  nimiber  of  Presbyteries, 
would  defeat  the  movement.  The  Avi'iter  of  this, 
received  letters  expressing  such  anxiety  —  and  that 
from  those  who  might  be  sujDjDosed  to  be  most  capable 
of  judging  how  the  field  lay. 

The  Peess,  both  secular  and  religious,  was  most 
active  and  decisive  for  the  Reunion.  And  this  was  by 
no  means  confined  to  the  Press  of  the  denomination, 

35 


546  PEESiJYTERIAN    EEUNION. 

but  was  most  remarkably  the  voice  of  the  leading 
Journals  in  the  land.  Such  an  Eirenicon  was  hailed, 
on  all  hands,  as  a  precious  National  boon. 

The  Pastoral  Letter  ordered  to  be  prepared  by 
the  Joint  Committee  of  Conference  and  the  two  Mod- 
erators, was  soon  issued  to  the  Churches.  It  was 
brief,  direct  and  earnest,  and  it  aimed,  in  a  spirit  of 
Christian  conciliation,  to  state  the  case  with  clearness, 
and  in  terms  of  honest  simplicity  to  urge  the  fit- 
ness and  timeliness  of  the  Great  Measure  of  Keunion. 
It  had  been  first  submitted  to  each  of  the  Joint  Com- 
mittee, and  had  received  the  cordial  approval  of  each 
member  separately.  It  is  testified  to,  as  having  done 
good  service  in  helping  forward  the  blessed  work. 
And  it  stands  on  record  as  a  public  testimony  to  the 
equal  terms  of  the  Eeunion,  and  to  the  strong  and  pos- 
itive adherence  to  the  Standards,  on  one  part  equally  as 
on  the  other  part,  without  any  restriction  or  qualifica- 
tion. 

DAY   OF  PRATER. 

The  Day  of  Prayer,  recommended  by  both  the  Assem- 
blies, came.  The  great  theme  of  Union  and  Reunion 
was  treated  by  the  thousands  of  ministers  in  so  many 
pulpits  of  the  Church.  It  was  a  rare  season  of  con- 
certed supplications.  At  this  advanced  period  (Sep- 
tember), within  two  months  of  the  re-assembling  in 
Pittsburg,  there  seemed  scarcely  the  shadow  of  a  doubt 
as  to  the  issue.  The  public  sentiment  had  settled  down 
to  a  measurable  certainty.  And  yet,  the  Great  Con- 
cert of  Prayer  for  the  Reunion,  on  the  eve  of  the 
meeting  of  the  two  Assemblies,  was  a  grand  auxiliary. 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  547 

Not  a  few  of  the  leading  Presbyteries  had  already 
met  soon  after  the  Assemblies'  adjournment,  to  receive 
and  act  upon  the  Report  of  their  Commissioners. 
And  the  indications  had  been  slowly  gathering  with  in- 
creased distinctness.  But  now,  God,  the  Paraclete, 
Teacher,  and  Strengthener,  was  invoked  by  the  Assem- 
bled Chui'ches,  on  both  parts,  for  the  best  results,  and 
for  the  consummation  of  all  that  was  hoped  for.  The 
heart  of  the  people  was  plainly  enlisted  for  the  move- 
ment. As  the  time  approached,  reports  from  the  fall 
Presbyteries  were  rolled  up  in  swelling  affirmatives, 
and  beyond  the  requisite  two-thirds,  on  both  sides. 
And  the  glad  announcement  was  at  length  made  that 
the  GOTiditions  precedent  liad  been  fulfilled  ! 

PROCEEDINGS     AT    THE    ADJOURNED    SESSION     IN     PITTS- 
BURG. 

According  to  adjournment,  the  two  Assemblies  con- 
vened in  the  City  of  Pittsburg,  on  Wednesday,  No- 
vember 10th,  1869,  at  11  o'clock,  a.  m. 

The  General  Assembly  (O.  S.)  met  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Chm'ch,  on  Wood  street. 

The  General  Assembly  (N.  S.)  convened  in  the  Third 
Presbyterian  Church,  on  Sixth  avenue. 

These  churches  were  only  a  couple  of  blocks  apart. 

The  members  in  attendance  were  more  nearly  equal 
in  numbers  than  at  the  New  York  session.  The  Old 
School  roll  counted  237,  and  the  New  School  roll 
227. 

After  clearing  the  docket  of  whatever  business  be- 
longed to  the  Old  School  body,  the  Stated  Clerk,  Dr. 
McGill,  read  the  Report  of  the  action  of  Presbyteries 


548  PRESBYTERTAlsr    CHURCH. 

ill  response  to  the  overture  on  Reunion.     Tliis  was  on 
Thursday  morning —  the  Second  Day. 

REPORT  ON  THE  REUNION  VOTE  OV  TUB  PRESBYTERIES. 

The  Presbyteries  in  connection  with  this  General  Assembly  have  all  report- 
ed in  writing,  on  the  overture  of  Reunion,  as  t  rdered  in  the  Brick  Church, 
at  New  York,  except  the  following  ten,  viz.  :  Austin,  Corisco,  Knox,  Knox 
ville,  Maury,  Ogdensburg,  Shantung,  Siam,  Stockton,  and  Western  Africa. 

The  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Santa  Fe  Presbytery  has  reported  by  letter,  that 
it  is  impossible  for  this  Presbytery  to  have  a  meeting,  in  present  circumstan 
ces.  The  Presbyteries  of  Allahabad  and  Canton,  being  unable  to  meet  with- 
in the  time  specified,  have  sent  circulars,  signed  by  a  majority  of  each,  to  in- 
dicate the  will  of  the  Presbytery  in  favor  of  the  Reunion  as  now  proposed : 
but  these  are  not  counted  in  declaring  the  result.  Another  Presbytery,  La- 
hore, formed  by  the  Synod  of  Northern  India,  in  December  last,  but  not  reg- 
ularly reported  as  yet  by  any  officer  of  that  Synod,  has  sent  its  answer  to 
this  overture,  in  written  form,  and  this  has  been  counted;  on  the  presump- 
tion that  the  Assembly  will  recognize,  at  this  meeting,  the  existence  of  that 
Presbytery  on  our  roU. 

We  have  thus  o?ie  Imndred  and  forty-four  Presbyteries.  One  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  of  these  have  answered  the  overture  sent  down  affirmatively, 
in  writing.  Three,  Hudson,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  and  West  Lexington,  have  an- 
swered in  the  negative. 

Informal  Reports  from  the  Presbyteries  of  Stockton, 
Ogdensburg,  and  Milwaukee,  in  the  affii-mative,  were 
admitted  to  record. 

In  both  Assemblies  action  was  taken  looldnor  to 
union  with  the  United  Presbyterian  body,  mthout 
any  bar  from  their  Psalmody. 

A  book  was  oj)ened  on  the  clerk's  desk  for  the  au- 
tographs of  all  the  officers  and  meml^ers  of  both  As- 
semblies. Photographic  artists  succeeded  in  taking 
excellent  views  of  l:»oth  l^odies  as  they  were  grouped 
in  front  of  their  respective  churches. 

On  Thursday  evening,  a  Public  IMeeting  in  the  inter- 
est of  Home  Missions  was  held  in  the  First  Churcli. 
Stirring  addresses  were  made,  and  the  large  audience 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OP    1869.  549 

of  both  Assemblies  evinced  tlieir  appreciation  of  tliat 
vastly  augmented  strength  which  the  Eeunion  must 
give  to  the  denomination,  for  vigorously  prosecuting 
this  great  work  of  our  day. 

On  Friday  morning,  the  deputation  fi-om  the  New 
School,  to  report  the  vote  of  their  Presbyteries,  was 
announced  in  the  Old  School  Assembly.  It  consisted 
of  the  Rev.  Drs.  Aiken,  and  Z.  M.  Humphrey,  and  the 
Hon.  Jno.  A.  Foote. 

The  chairman,  Dr.  Aiken  introduced  the  reading  of 
the  E,e23ort  as  follows : 

J\Ir.  Moderator. — I  am  one,  sir,  of  a  Committee  of  three  appointed  by  tlie 
other  branch  to  wait  upon  this  Assembly,  and  to  report  to  you  the  results  of 
the  action  of  our  Presbyteries  on  the  subject  of  Reunion.  As  I  may  take  it 
for  granted,  I  suppose,  that  you  are  ready  to  receive  our  report,  I  would  beg 
leave  to  call  on  Dr.  Humphrey,  one  of  the  Committee,  to  read  an  official 
statement  from  our  Stated  Clerk. 

Dr.  Humphrey  read  the  following  : 

REPORT. 

Report  of  tlie  Stated  Gl&rk  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America,  on  the  answers  of  tlie  Presbytenes  to  the 
Overture  on  tlie  Reunion  of  tlie  two  branches  of  the  Ghurcli. 

The  number  of  Presbyteries  connected  with  this  General  Assembly  is  one 
hundred  and  thirteen.  Official  responses  have  been  received  from  every  one 
of  them.  They  have  all  answered  the  overture  in  the  affirmative.  In  each 
of  the  Presbyteries  of  Albany,  Wellsboro,  and  the  District  of  Columbia,  a 
single  negative  vote  was  cast.  In  each  of  the  remaining  one  hundred  and 
ten  Presbyteries,  the  vote  ^fas  unanimmis. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Edwin  T.  Hatfield,  Stated  Clerk. 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  November  10,  18G9. 

The  reading  of  the  report  was  hailed  with  great  ap 
plause. 


550  PllESBYTEKIAN    CHURCH. 

The  Moderator,  Dr.  Jacobus,  responded  in  tliese 
words : 

Bbetiiren,  —  Our  hearts  have  been  deeply  moved  by  the  announcement  of 
the  sin^ar  unanimity  which  has  pervaded  your  body ;  a  unanimity,  as  we 
believe,  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  Only  three  Pres 
byters  of  all  your  list  of  voters,  in  all  parts  of  this  land,  and  of  other  lands 
vote  No  to  this  programme  of  Reunion.  Is  not  this  in  the  line  of  what  was 
predicted  by  the  Evangelical  Prophet:  "Thy  watchmen  shall  lift  up  the 
voice ;  with  the  voice  together  shall  they  sing ;  for  they  shall  see  eye  to  eye, 
when  the  Lord  shall  bring  again  Zion  "  ?  And  shall  not  the  results  be  also  iu 
the  line  of  what  was  predicted  in  the  same  connection  by  that  prophet : 
"Break  forth  into  joy,  sing  together,  ye  waste  places  of  Jerusalem;  for  the 
Lord  hath  comforted  his  people,  he  hath  redeemed  Jerusalem  "  ?  The  Lord 
bless  us  and  keep  us.  The  Lord  lift  up  the  light  of  his  countenance  upon  us, 
ajad  give  us  peace.     [Applause.  ] 

Mr.  Hemy  Day  moved  tlie  adoption  of  the  foUowdng 
paper.  It  was  unanimously  adopted  by  a  rising  vote, 
as  follows: 

This  Assembly  having  received  and  examined  the  statement  of  the  votes 
of  the  several  Presbyteries  on  the  Basis  of  the  Reunion  of  the  two  bodies  now 
claiming  the  name  and  the  rights  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  which  Basis  is  in  the  words  f  ollowiag,  namely :  ' '  The 
Union  shall  be  effected  on  the  doctrinal  and  ecclesiastical  Basis  of  our  com- 
mon standards ;  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  shaU  be  ac- 
knowledged to  be  the  inspired  word  of  God,  and  the  only  infallible  rule  of 
faith  and  practice ;  the  Confession  of  Faith  shall  continue  to  be  sincerely  re- 
ceived and  adopted  as  containing  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy 
Scriptxires ;  and  the  Government  and  discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  iu 
the  United  States  shall  be  approved  as  containing  the  principles  and  rules  of 
our  polity ;  "  —  does  hereby  find  and  declare  that  said  Basis  of  Union  has 
been  approved  by  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  Presbyteries  connected  with 
this  branch  of  the  Church,  —  and  whereas,  the  other  branch  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  nojv  sitting  in  the  Third  Pres- 
byterian Church,  in  the  City  of  Pittsburg,  has  reported  to  this  Assembly 
that  said  Basis  has  been  approved  by  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  Presbyte- 
ries connected  with  that  branch  of  the  Church,  now,  therefore,  we  do  sol- 
emnly declare  that  said  Basis  of  Reunion  is  of  binding  force.     [Applause.] 

Dr.  Rodgers  said : 

BIr.  Modebatok,  —  My  grandfather  was  the  first  Moderator  of  the  Pres- 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  551 

byterian  Church  in  these  United  States ;  and,  as  his  grandson,  I  mo\  e  you 
now  that  this  General  Assembly  be  dissolved.     The  motion  was  passed. 

The  Moderator,  Dr.  Jacobus,  then  said : 

By  virtue  of  the  authority  delegated  to  me  by  the  Church,  let  this  Gene- 
ral Assembly  be  dissolved,  and  I  do  hereby  dissolve  it,  and  require  another 
General  Assembly,  chosen  in  the  same  manner,  to  meet  in  the  City  of  Phila- 
delphia, on  the  third  Thursday  of  May,  Anno  Domioi,  1870,  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  at  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M. 

In  the  New  School  Assembly,  the  Moderator  an- 
nounced that  a  deputation  was  present  from  the  other 
Assembly,  and  if  no  objections  were  made,  it  would 
now  be  heard.  The  deputation  consisted  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Musgrave,  and  Mr.  Day. 

Dr.  Musgrave  said : 

I  appear  before  you  as  a  delegate  from  the  General  Assembly  in  session  in 
the  First  Church,  to  communicate  to  you  specially  the  vote  of  our  Presbyte- 
ries on  the  subject  of  Reunion.  We  have  brought  a  certified  copy  of  the 
vote;  the  majority  has  been  much  more  than  two-thirds  —  the  number  re- 
quired —  and  the  votes  of  our  Presbyteries  have  been  almost  unanimous.  The 
overture  has  been  adopted,  and  the  union  has  thus  been  consummated.  I 
have  not  time  to  make  a  speech,  and  am  not  in  condition  to  do  it.  I  will, 
therefore,  simply  add,  that  I  never  discharged  any  duty  in  my  Life  with  a 
greater  pleasure  than  this.  I  have  had  many  duties  during  the  course  of  my 
ministry,  that  have  filled  my  heart  with  praise  and  thanksgiving  to  God,  but  I 
may  say  that  nothing  has  so  excited  my  gratitude  and  joy  as  this.  I  believe 
it  has  been  brought  about  by  the  Spirit  and  Providence  of  God,  and  I  firmly 
believe  that,  as  this  result  has  been  iutroduced  by  Him,  so  He  will  continue 
to  guide  and  bless  us,  and  make  this  union  a  blessing  to  our  land  and  the  world. 

Mr.  Day  then  read  the  certified  vote  of  the  Old 
School  Presbyteries  on  the  overture  of  Eeunion  —  only 
three  dissenting.  The  reading  of  the  vote  was  greeted 
with  applause. 

Mr.  Day  said : 

Brethken,  —  I  trust  that  perhaps  at  this  very  moment  an  overture  or  state* 


552  PRESBYTERIATT    CIIUllCH. 

ment  similar  in  character  has  gone  forth  from  this  Assembly  to  the  Assembly 
from  which  we  have  come,  and  that  it  is  being  read  there  at  this  very  moment 
These  two  churches,  so  long  divided,  are  now  united  by  the  hand  of  God ;  and 
what  God  hath  joiaed  together,  brethren,  let  us  never  sunder.     [Applause.] 

The  IModerator  (Dr.  Fowler)  : 

This  General  Assembly  feel  renewed  within  them  the  joy  they  experienced 
on  being  unofficially  informed  of  the  result  of  the  vote  in  your  Presbyteries, 
and  we  fully  sympathize  vsdth  you  in  your  hopes  for  the  future.  Bear  to  your 
Assembly  the  assurance  that  we  are  in  full  accord  with  them.     [Applause.  1 

Dr.  Adams : 

Mr.  Moderator, —  I  move  you  the  following  resolution  : 
This  Assembly  having  received  and  examined  the  statement  of  the  votes  of 
the  several  Presbyteries  on  the  Basis  of  the  Reunion  of  the  two  bodies  now 
claiming  the  name  and  the  rights  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  which  Basis  is  in  the  words  following,  viz.  :  "  The  Union 
shall  be  effected  on  the  doctrinal  and  ecclesiastical  Basis  of  our  Common 
standards ;  the  Scriptui'es  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  shall  be  acknowl- 
edged to  be  the  inspired  word  of  God,  and  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and 
practice  ;  the  Confession  of  Faith  shall  continue  to  be  sincerely  received  and 
adopted  as  containing  the  system  of  doctiine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures ; 
and  the  Government  and  Discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  shall  be  approved  as  containing  the  principles  and  rules  of  our  polity  ; " 
—  does  hereby  find  and  declare  that  said  Basis  of  Union  has  been  approved  by 
more  than  two-thirds  of  the  Presbyteries  connected  with  this  branch  of  the 
Church, —  and  whereas,  the  other  branch  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  now  sitting  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburg,  has  reported  to  this  Assembly  that  said  Basis  has  been  ap- 
proved by  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  Presbyteries  connected  with  that 
branch  of  the  Church,  now,  therefore,  we  do  solemnly  declare  that  said 
Basis  of  Reunion  is  of  binding  force. 

The  paper   was  adopted  unanimously    by  a  rising 
vote. 

THE  ASSEMBLY  DISSOLVED. 

Dr.  Adams : 

I  now  move  you,  Mr.  Moderator,  that  this  Assembly  be  dissolved  in  the 
usual  form  prescribed  by  our  constitution. 


Adopted  unanimously. 


-^.^^i 


:^^^^p^^^^»Ss:-^=^i' 


FIRST  CHURCH,  PITTSBURGH,   PA. 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  555 

The  Moderator,  Dr.  Fowler,  then  said  as  follows : 

By  virtue  of  the  authority  delegated  to  me  by  the  Church,  let  this  General 
Assembly  be  dissolved,  and  I  do  hereby  dissolve  it,  and  require  another  Assem- 
bly, chosen  in  the  same  manner,  to  meet  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  in 
Philadelphia,  on  the  third  Thursday  in  May,  1870. 

It  had  already  been  agreed  that  at  ten  o'clock,  on  this 
day,  the  two  Assemblies  should  each  be  regularly  dis- 
solved, and  that  the  two  bodies  should  immediately 
come  together  for  such  religious  celebration  of  the 
grand  event  as  was  befitting  to  the  occasion. 

Thus,  at  the  same  houi*,  in  both  houses,  with  a  sol- 
emnity becoming  so  rare  an  event,  the  Moderators 
formally  dissolved  their  respective  Assemblies.  The 
Christian  Doxology,  and  the  Apostolic  benediction, 
closed  whatever  pertained  to  the  separate  history  and 
doings  of  these  kindi^ed  bodies,  which  had  now  become 
in  effect  One. 

The  hour  of  ten  arrived.  The  sides  had  thus  far 
been  propitious.  But  the  chill  November  wind  was  out 
on  this  memorable  morning,  when  the  two  Assemblies 
were  to  meet  and  to  greet  each  other  in  the  open  street. 
The  city  was  moved ;  and  no  blast  of  November  could 
repress  the  public  enthusiasm.  The  programme  was 
well  arranged,  and  its  items  were  admu-ably  car- 
ried out.  The  New  School  body  first  left  their  house, 
at  the  hour,  and  marched  in  double  file  down  Sixth 
avenue  to  Wood  street.  As  they  tm'ned  the  corner  into 
"Wood,  the  head  of  the  column  stood  opposite  the  Fii'st 
Church.  This  was  the  signal  for  the  Old  School  body 
to  move  out  of  their  house,  and  to  take  up  the  line  of 
march  in  a  parallel  column  with  the  other  body,  along 
Wood  street,  also  in  double  file.     The  marshals  and 


556  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

their  aids,  who  headed  the  two  advancing  columns, 
found  no  little  difficulty  in  clearing  the  street.  The 
Marshals  were  Gen.  J.  K.  Morehe.u),  S^uiuel  Rea, 
Joji^  D.  McCoRD,  and  George  H.  Stuart;  and  their 
Aids,  Joseph  Dilwop.th,  Charles  J.  Clarke,  Robert 
A.  Clarke,  Wllllui  A.  Herron,  Davh)  Robinson,  and 
T.  A.  Cree.  Besides  the  crowds  who  thronged  the 
sidewalks  and  filled  the  doors  and  ^vindows,  the  broad 
avenue  was  ajam  with  eager  spectators.  Waving  of 
handkerchiefs  and  shouts  of  applause  greeted  the  rare 
procession,  and  evinced  the  public  enthusiasm.  The 
Iron  City  was  electrified.  The  magnetism  of  such  a 
movement  was  attractive  beyond  any  parallel  It 
was  confined  to  no  denomination.  The  heart  of  the 
people  was  stirred.  It  was,  indeed,  a  spectacle  alto- 
gether novel.  Christian  fraternity  was  holding  Jubi- 
lee !  The  parallel  ranks.  Old  School  and  New  School, 
on  opposite  sides  of  the  avenue,  two-and-two,  arm-in- 
arm, moved  along  one  block,  when  a  halt  was  made. 
The  two  Moderators  who  headed  their  respective  col- 
umns, then  approached  each  other,  and  grasped  hands 
with  a  will.  This  was  the  signal  for  the  Clerks,  who 
followed,  and  then  the  pairs  all  through  the  I'auks 
parted,  crossed  over,  and  paired  anew,  —  the  Old  and 
New,  grasping  each  other,  and  amidst  welcomes,  thanks- 
givings, and  tears,  they  locked  arms  and  stood  together 
in  their  reformed  relations.  There  were  I'are  personal 
meetings  on  that  avenue  after  this  strange  fashion. 
Men  found  themselves,  by  this  wonderful  order  of  the 
ranks,  brought  face  to  face,  and  hand  to  hand,  with 
those  fi'om  whom  they  had  been  a  long  time  separated, 
and,  perhaps,  more  or  less  alienated. 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  557 

Tliere  were  incidents  mthin  that  brief  moment  of 
forming^  the  new  cohimns  which  stirred  half  a  thousand 
hearts  to  the  depths,  brothers  hailing  brothers,  as  if 
long  absent  or  lost ;  some  discovered  to  others,  as  Joseph 
to  his  brethren,  and  others  falling  upon  the  neck 
of.  those  long  dissevered  and  at  strife,  as  Jacob  and 
Esau.  For  example,  it  may  be  mentioned,  that  two 
eminent  and  excellent  pastors  of  the  same  city  in  New 
York  State,  who  had  for  years  been  estranged,  as  ac- 
knowledged leaders  in  their  respective  branches  of  the 
Church,  found  themselves  in  that  providential  pairing 
Ijrought  together  for  the  hand-shaking  and  fi*aternal 
greeting  which  was  the  divine  order  of  the  day. 
Neither  of  those  dear  brethren  was  the  man  to  resist 
the  loving  ordinance  of  God.  Neither  of  them  could 
fail  to  note  the  providential  commandment.  Even,  in 
any  case,  what  arm  could  be  so  withered  as  not  to  move 
at  such  command  of  Jesus  to  stretch  it  forth  to  a 
brother  in  Christ,  for  its  own  cui'e  ?  And  at  this  great 
family  holiday  it  was  meet  to  make  meriy  and  be  glad. 
Those  large  hearts  bounded  at  the  celestial  signal  for 
that  fraternal  embrace.  They  met.  They  grasped 
each  other.  They  wept  together  on  the  street.  They 
stood  arm-in-arm  in  the  ranks  and  blessed  God.  All 
alienations  were  gone.  They  were  brothers  confessed 
before  men  and  angels,  under  the  open  sky,  and  on  they 
marched  ^vith  gushing  emotion  to  keep  the  Reunion 
Jubilee  together  in  God's  house.  On  the  next  Sabl^ath 
each  of  these  pastors  made  public  mention  of  the  stri- 
king incident  to  their  respective  congregations,  as  indi- 
cating the  finger  of  God  in  the  great  movement,  bear- 
ing testimony  to  the  Reunion,  as  so  personal  with  them- 


558  PRESBYTERIAT^^    CIIUKCH. 

selves.  And,  as  by  a  strange  magic  sucli  a  revolution 
had  occurred  as  in  a  moment,  and  the  Presbyterian 
ranks  had  been  formed  anew,  so  had  occurred  the  great 
Keunion,  of  which  this  was  only  the  typical  illustra- 
tion. Througli  Fifth  avenue  into  Smithfield  street, 
and  onward  to  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church,  the  pro- 
cession passed,  brethren  unbosoming  themselves  to 
brethren  at  every  step.  It  was  a  grand  public  profes- 
sion of  Christian  unity.  It  was  felt  to  be  the  linking 
of  mighty  forces  for  doing  battle  against  a  world  of 
evil. 

Men  of  all  beliefs  acknowledged  the  power  of  such 
a  movement.  It  was  well  remarked  that  "  the  tread  of 
armed  thousands  through  the  same  thoroughfares,  with 
banners  blackened  and  torn  in  their  country's  defence, 
had  not  so  stirred  the  soul  of  the  people  as  did  the 
sight  of  this  united  band  of  once  separated  brethren." 
It  was  a  triumph  of  love  —  a  victory  gained  under  the 
banner  of  the  Prince  of  Peace.  As  the  procession 
reached  the  church,  the  building  was  blockaded  by  the 
waiting  multitude.  Within  the  house,  both  the  gallery 
and  orchestra  were  already  in  possession  of  eager  spec- 
tators. As  the  head  of  the  column  entered  the  door,  the 
large  and  noble  edifice  rang  with  the  grand  old  Jubilee 
Hymn^  sung  by  a  choir  in  the  organ  loft,  "  Bloio  ye  the 
trumpet^  hloiu  —  the  gladly  solemn  souncV^  The  spa- 
cious platform  was  promptly  filled  by  the  officers 
of  the  Assemblies,  and  by  such  of  the  Commissioners 
as  could  be  seated  there,  and  as  soon  as  the  remainder 
of  the  procession  was  disposed  of  in  the  body  of  the 
church,  the  outside  multitude  rushed  in,  and  instantly 
every  seat  and  standing  place  was  crowded  to  the  ut- 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  559 

most  capacity  of  tlie  building.  Hundi'eds  could  find 
no  room,  not  even  so  much  as  about  tlie  door.  On 
either  side  of  a  small  table  in  the  centre  of  the  plat- 
form +he  Moderators,  Drs.  Fowler  and  Jacobus,  sat, 
and  presided  by  turns.  It  was  now  about  11  o'clock, 
and  "  the  Coronation  Hymn  "  was  grandly  given  by 
the  entire  audience.  The  solid  mass  of  faces  in  pew, 
and  aisle,  and  doorway,  and  gallery,  was  most  impress- 
ive from  the  platform.  And  from  the  body  of  the 
house  the  array  of  Commissioners,  clerical  and  lay, 
among  the  foremost  men  in  Church  and  State,  and  met 
for  such  a  divine  purpose,  was  everywhere  noted  as  a 
rare  sight.  It  was  an  interesting  incident,  that  the  ven- 
erable David  Elliott,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  who  had  presided  in 
Philadelphia  at  the  Disruption,  stepped  forward  to  the 
platform,  and  took  his  seat  in  front  near  the  Moderator. 
His  appearance  was  greeted  with  applause. 

After  a  solemn  invocation  by  the  Rev.  C.  C.  Beatty, 
D.D.,  it  was  ordered,  on  motion  of  the  Rev.  G.  S.  Plum- 
ley,  that  the  following  message  be  sent  by  cable  to  the 
Chairman  of  the  Union  Committee  in  the  Free  Church 
of  Scotland : 

"  To  the  Rev.  Roht.  Buchanan^  D.D.^  Glasgow : 

"  The  two  great  Presbyterian  Churches  in  America^ 

this  day  united^  greet  the  Presbyterian  Churches  of 

Great  Britain  and  Ireland^  and  pray  that  they  also 

may  be  one. 

(Signed)  "Geo.  H.  Stuart, 

"Jno.  Hall, 

"Wm.  E.  Dodge, 

"  Committee. 

"Pittsburg,  Nov.  12th,  1869." 


560  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Selections  of  Scripture  were  read,  after  Avliicli  the 
audience  joined  again  in  the  service  of  praise  —  "  J3hst 
are  the  Sons  of  Peace r 

The  Eev.  Philemon  H.  Fowler,  D.D.,  Moderator  (N. 
S.),  made  the  opening  address.     He  said : 

Well  may  one  feel  diunb  in  the  presence  of  this  overpowering  occasion 
And  it  is  from  no  choice  of  my  own  that  I  break  silence  now.  Would  that  I 
could  sit  quietly  here,  and  wonder,  and  praise,  and  adore,  and  rejoice !  Is  there 
a  parallel  in  all  history  to  the  event  that  has  now  been  accomplished  ?  It  is 
easy  to  rend  asunder,  but  oh,  how  hard  to  reunite  !  Toa  may  splinter  the  rock, 
but  can  you  gather  together  the  scattered  fragments  and  solidify  them 
again  ?  You  may  easily  divide  the  Church,  but  can  you  so  easily  bind  it  to- 
gether agaiu  ?  History  is  full  of  divisions  of  the  Church  —  only  here  and 
there  is  there  a  record  of  reunion  —  and  when  revmion  has  taken  place,  how 
comparatively  small  the  bodies  whose  parts  have  been  joined  together !  But 
here  we  are,  thousands  of  ministers,  thousands  of  congregations,  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  Christians,  flowing  together  by  one  impulse,  and  embracing 
each  other  in  what  we  hope  and  believe  will  be  an  indissoluble  Union.  [Ap- 
plause. ] 

And  now,  how  wonderful  the  unanimity  !  There  have  been  reunions  be- 
fore, but  how  many  and  what  large  fragments  have  stood  out  against  the  fu- 
sion !  How  small  the  fragments  that  withstand  the  glow  of  love  under  which 
we,  who  have  been  dissolved,  have  flo-mi  together,  and  those  fragments  re- 
maining in  the  mass  will  be  dissolved  with  it.  [Applause.  ]  Think  of  it ! 
Of  a  hundred  and  twenty  Presbyteries  of  one  branch,  all,  without  an  excep- 
tion, pronouncing  in  favor  of  Reunion.  Think  of  it !  Out  of  a  hundred  and 
forty-four  Presbyteries  of  the  other  branch,  only  three  pronouncing  against 
the  Reunion. 

And  what  gladness  this  Reunion  gives  to  the  advanced  corps  of  the  sacra- 
mental host  of  God's  elect !  How  our  outposts  are  rejoicing  in  view  of  it  — 
our  missionary  brethren  at  home  and  abroad  I 

Two  or  three  days  before  I  started  for  Pittsburg,  as  I  left  my  own  house, 
I  met  a  missionary  brother  from  Ceylon.  He  was  about  coming  to  see  me. 
He  was  the  bearer  of  a  letter  from  another  missionary  brother  in  India. 

That  letter  will  best  speak  for  itself,  and  I  will  take  the  liberty  of  reading 
it. 

' '  Dear  Brethren  [It  is  addressed  to  us]  —  I  have  been  reading  in  the 
New  York  Observer  and  in  the  Evangelist  the  accovmts  of  the  meetings  of 
the  two  General  Assemblies.  In  view  of  what  has  been  done,  and  what  now 
appears  may  be  done  in  the  future,  I  can  say,  with  an  overflowong  heart,  '  Let 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  561 

everything  that  hath  breath  praise  the  Lord. '  I  cannot  express  the  degree 
of  pleasure  that  I  experienced  on  reading  the  proposition  to  raise  the  sum  of 
five  millions  of  dollars  as  a  thant-offering,  to  which  I  gladly  contribute  my 
mite,  on  the  principle  laid  do^\^l  in  Malachi. 

' '  I  hope  that  the  one  hundred  dollars  in  gold,  accompanying  this,  will 
prove  a  mustard-seed  from  which  a  gigantic  tree  may  spring  up,  with  extended 
branches  studded  with  golden  mites,  that  will  bear  five  millions  of  dollars. 
The  thousands  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  portion  of  Zion  can  easily 
collect  the  required  sum,  which,  with  earnest  prayer  and  more  ardent  conse- 
cration, will  bring  down  the  answer  to  the  Saviour' s  supplication  that  they 
all  may  be  one. 

"A  PRESBYTERIAN  ON  THE  FOREIGN  FIELD." 

And  here  is  the  donation,  converted  from  gold  into  currency,  and  amountr- 
ing  now  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  dollars  and  seventy-five  cents. 

This  was  greeted  witli  loud  applause.  Turning 
tlien  to  Dr.  Jacobus,  lie  said  : 

My  Deak  Brother  Moderator,  —  May  we  not,  before  I  take  my  seat, 
perform  a  simple  act  symbolical  of  the  Union  which  has  taken  place  between 
these  two  branches  of  the  Church.     Let  ics  clasp  hands. 

This  challenge  was  instantly  responded  to.  The 
Moderators  promptly  grasped  each  other's  hands, 
"amidst  prolonged  and  deafening  applause."  The 
Doxology  to  the  Old  Hundredth  was  then  sung 
with  a  hearty  good  will,  the  great  audience  standing,  — 
'^  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow. ''^ 

Dr.  Jacobus  then,  alluding  to  the  joining  of  hands, 
said: 

These  are  the  nuptials  of  the  Churches  which  we  represent.  Then,  I  am 
sure,  my  brethren,  that  the  Great  Apostle  and  High  Priest  of  our  profession, 
Jesus  Christ,  officiates  at  the  wedlock.  And,  in  His  name,  I  would  put  the 
question  just  now  —  just  here,  and  say,  "  If  there  be  any  person  present  who 
knows  of  any  reason,  just  and  sufficient,  why  these  parties  may  not  be  law- 
fully united,  let  him  speak,  or  ever  after  hold  his  peace."     [Applause.] 

And  I  <5ay  to  you,  venerable  father  [addressing  Dr.  David  Elliott],  who  were 
the  organ  and  instrument  in  Philadelphia,  of  the  church  I  represent,  at  the 


562  PRESBTTEKIAN    CIIURCU. 

parting  asunder  of  those  that  were  yesterday  separate  branches  of  our  Pres- 
byterian body,  —  Do  you  know  of  any  reason,  just  and  sufficient,  why  these 
parties  may  not  be  lawfully  united  ? 

Dr.  Elliott. —  I  do  not,  sir.     [Applause,  and  cries  of  good^  good.] 

George  H.  Stuart.  —  "  "Wliom  God  hath  joined  together,  let  not  man  put 
asunder."     [Prolonged  applause.] 

Dr.  Jacobus  [continuing]  —  In  the  name  of  God,  Amen !  [Amens,  in  the 
audienpe.  ] 

When  we  met  together  on  another  platform,  in  the  great  commercial 
metropolis,  six  months  ago,  we  looked  ^vith  happy  anticipations  to  this  hour 
— this  solemn,  impressive,  eventful  hour.  May  we  not  say  the  hour  has 
come  ?  May  we  not  add  with  all  reverence,  the  hour  has  come  that  the  Son  of 
Man  may  be  glorified,  and  that  these  kernels  of  wheat,  that  fall  into  the 
ground  and  die,  die  only  that  they  may  not  abide  alone,  but  that  they  may 
bring  forth  much  fruit  ? 

The  Presbyteries  have  spoken  from  Maine  to  California,  and  from  across 
the  Pacific,  from  China  and  from  India,  and  they  have  sent  up,  with  such 
signal  and  marvellous  unanimity  as  only  God  himself  could  bring  about,  as 
we  believe,  their  affirmative  response  to  the  Plan  of  Reunion.  Three  Presby- 
ters of  your  body,  three  Presbyteries  of  our  body,  brethren  good  and  true  and 
loyal,  and  who  wiU  be  faithful  in  the  Reunited  body,  as  I  verily  beUeve,  yet 
having,  with  us,  the  right  of  private  judgment,  have  said  No.  But  this  ele- 
ment of  dissent  is  not  an  element  of  antagonism.  Where  could  there  have 
been  less  of  dissent  ? 

We  stand  here  on  symbolic  ground,  near  where  these  beautiful  rivers  run  into 
each  other.  They  run  into  each  other^  I  say,  —  the  Allegheny  into  the  Mo 
nongahela,  and  the  Monongahela  into  the  Allegheny.  You  shall  see  just  at 
the  confluence  a  slight  difference  in  the  currents,  but  only  for  a  little  while. 
Tou  shall  see  more  of  it  in  stormy  times.,  when  there  come  rushing  down  the 
banks  of  the  Monongahela  the  tributaries  to  that  stream.  But  how  shortly 
the  waters  of  the  Allegheny  —  as  the  name  imports,  ''clear.,  running  waters  " 
—  wash  away  all  the  muddiness,  and  the  united  stream  makes  the  Ohio  — 
'■'■  tlie  beautiful  river."  And  the  Monongahela  —  as  the  name  imports,  ''the 
river  of  crumbling  banks"  —  that  symbolizes  the  situatioiL  The  crumbling' 
banks  of  prejudice  and  alienation,  and  suspicion  and  strife,  on  both  sides^  have 
muddied  the  current  for  a  while,  and  muddy  it  yet,  perhaps,  a  Little,  just  at 
the  point  of  union.  But  pass  on  a  few  steps,  and  the  clear  running  water, 
which  is  symbolic  in  all  the  Scriptures  of  the  river  of  the  water  of  life,  purifies 
the  stream.  When  the  si:)ring-tide  comes  ;  when  the  icy  bands  of  winter  are 
melted  away ;  when  the  snows  upon  the  hills  are  dissolved  —  then  the  rivers 
rush  impetuously  into  each  other's  arms  and  bosom,  and  plow  deeper  the  chan- 
nel of  the  united  stream,  and  flow  down  together  to  the  Father  of  Waters. 

And  with  our  representative  aystem,  and  our  free  principles,  and  our  unex- 
clusive  ecclesiastical  polity,  we  claim  to  be  a  great  American  Church — that 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1SG*J.  563 

may  properly  be  tlie  great  American  Cliurcli  —  if  we  understand  the  situation 
and  accept  it,  and  put  our  energies  into  it,  and  go  forth  on  all  our  frontiers, 
and  through  all  the  States,  to  evangelize  the  people.  And  this  day  this  Re- 
union is  the  great  bugle-blast,  caUing  upon  all  the  brethren  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian family  to  come  together  —  to  have  their  forces  massed  into  one  —  all  of 
them,  North,  South,  East,  and  West — however  they  may  choose  to  sing, 
whatever  forms  they  may  choose  to  observe,  adopting  with  us  the  doctrines  of 
our  Confession  and  the  polity  of  our  Church,  that  we  may  be  one,  as  Jesus 
has  prayed  that  we  may  be  one.      [Applause.  ] 

Yes,  my  brethren,  this  reunited  body  is  a  Church  for  missionary  work. 
With  five  thousand  ministers  nearly,  with  half  a  million  of  members  nearly, 
having  contributed  the  last  year  nearly  eight  millions  of  doUars  —  too  much 
of  it  expended,  perhaps,  in  matters  not  closely  connected  with  the  multipUca- 
tion  of  sanctuaries,  and  the  sending  abroad  of  the  living  missionaries.  But 
the  money  is  here,  and  it  is  at  the  command  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  and 
we  believe  that  this  union  is  accomphshed  by  the  order  of  God,  for  the  most 
enlarged  results.  That  symboUcal  transaction  recorded  by  the  prophet  Zech- 
ariah  —  might  it  not  have  intimated  what  we  have  heard  to-day  from  the 
missionary  stations,  in  sympathy  and  concert  with  this  great  movement? 
When  the  captive  exiles  had  set  to  work  to  rebuild  the  waste  places  of  Jeru- 
salem, they  were  ordered  to  take  the  gold  and  silver  brought  from  heathen 
Babylon,  not  so  much  for  the  rebuilding,  as  to  make  of  the  precious  metals  a 
triple  crown  for  the  head  of  Joshua,  the  great  representative  and  type  of  the 
High  Priest  of  our  profession,  "to  be  a  memorial,"  it  is  said,  "in  the  temple 
of  the  Lord."  "  And^''  it  is  added,  "  they  that  are  afar  off  shall  come  and  build 
in  the  temple  of  the  Lord. " 

But  to-day  we  keep  high  festival  in  this  city.  Blessed  be  God,  we  have  had 
the  Christian  Passover,  when  Jesus  Christ  died  at  Jerusalem.  And  we  have 
had  the  Christian  Pentecost  iu  part,  as  we  are  to  have  it  in  fuller  measure  in 
the  future.  And  was  not  this  the  condition  of  the  advent  of  the  Holy  Ghost  ? 
"When  .Ley  were  «M,  with  one  accord.,  in  one  place.,  suddenly  there  came  a 
sound  from  heaven  as  of  a  rushing  mighty  wind,  and  it  fiUed  all  the  place 
where  they  were  sitting."  Even  so  now  come,  blessed  Spirit  of  grace,  and 
truth,  and  promise,  in  a  second  glorious  Advent  that  shall  bring  about  the 
great  Feast  for  which  the  Christian  Church  waits  —  the  festival  of  which  the 
prophet  Zechariah  has  sung  —  when  from  all  lands,  all  people,  and  tongues, 
and  tribes  shall  come  up  to  Jerusalem  to  keep  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles  — 
the  great  closing  feast  of  the  year,  —  when  all  the  crops,  and  aU  the  vintage 
shall  have  been  gathered  in ;  and  it  shall  be  the  gi-eat  Harvest  Home,  which 
the  Church  yet  looks  for,  the  Harvest  Home  of  the  world.     [Applause.] 

Those  who  have  had  to  do  with  this  important  transaction,  have  some  of 
them  already  gone  to  glory ;  others,  who  have  borne  the  work  and  burden  of 
their  day  in  the  matter,  are  stiU  here  to  pray  with  us,  and  to  rejoice  in  God. 
Men  have  said  meanwhile,  "Protestantism  is  a  failure ;  "  and  a  Bishop  in  the 


564  rRESBYTEllIAN    CIIUIICH. 

Church  where  that  statement  was  made  answered  it  well,  when  he  said,  that, 
coming  out  of  his  rural  home  one  day,  he  saw  an  owl  perched  on  the  Umb  of  a 
tree,  winliing,  and  blinking,  and  screeching,  and  what  do  you  think  he  said '' 
"  Daylight  is  a  failure!  "  [Laughter.]  No,  my  hearers.  Protestantism  is  not 
a  failru-e.  And  Presbyterianism  is  the  pure  essence  of  Protestantism,  and  we 
have  it  in  its  simplest  form  —  with  the  Bible  and  the  living  minister  —  to  go 
through  aU  our  land,  and  through  all  lands  in  aU  the  world. 

Diplomacy  can  alter  the  boundaries  of  States;  war  can  reconstruct  the 
map  of  continents  ;  science  can  tunnel  granite  peaks,  and  connect  the  terri- 
tories on  cither  side.  But  it  is  the  fiuiction  and  prerogative  of  Divine  Grace 
to  overcome  prejudices  and  alienations  and  suspicions,  and  to  shed  a  sweet 
influence  upon  the  minds  of  men,  and  to  turn  them  as  the  rivers  of  waters  are 
turned,  so  that  we  all  may  be  one,  as  our  blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has 
prayed.     So  let  it  be.     Amen!     [Applause.] 

Tlie  audience  united  in  singing  the  Hymn  — 

"  Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds 
Our  hearts  in  Christian  Love." 

Dr.  Musgrave  then  took  the  platform  and  said : 

ADDRESS   OF   THE  REV.  DR.  IMUSGRAVE. 

Thank  God  for  this  hour !  and  for  the  privilege  of  being  present  on  th)s> 
occasion  !  How  marvellous  a  change  !  How  great  a  contrast  between  1869 
and  1837-38 !  As  a  Calvinist,  I  must  believe  that  everything  has  been  or- 
dr.ined  of  God,  so  that  I  believe  that  our  separation  was  the  wiU  of  God,  as 
our  Reunion  is.  But,  sir,  we  have  been  accustomed  to  distinguish  between 
the  permissive  and  the  efficient  wlU  of  God.  [Applause.]  And  that  is  the 
logical  method  of  solving  a  gt-eat  many  difficulties  which  embarrass  Armin- 
ians.     [Laiighter.] 

I  believe  that  this  Reunion  has  been  brought  about  by  the  efficient,  effi- 
cacious, gracious  wiU  of  God.  [Applause.]  I  do  not  believe  it  is  possible 
that  anything  less  than  an  Almighty  Power  could  have  produced  this  result. 
When  we  remember  our  antecedents  and  the  materials  of  which  ( [  only  speak 
of  the  Old  School),  when  we  think  only  of  the  materi:Us  of  which  we  nre  com- 
posed, it  is  marvellous  [laughter] ,  it  is  almost  miraculous  [renewed  laughter] 
that  we  should  have  been  brought  together  so  tnastingly  and  lovingly. 
[Laughter.]  Well,  I  am  constrained  to  say  that  I  yielded  to  nothing  short  of 
the  conviction  that  this  thing  is  of  God,  and  is  in  accordance  with  His  \vill ! 
Now,  sir,  I  believe  that  this  Reunion  will  bo  permanent ! 

Now,  after  a  separation  of  more  than  thirty  years,  we  are  agreed  to  come 
together  again.  It  puts  me  in  mind  of  a  remark  made  by  a  good  Quaker, 
whose  wife,  on  one  occasion,  was  disposed  to  quarrel  —  well,  there  are  ladies 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    0F18G9.  565 

here,  and  I  don't  like  to  tell  the  story  —  but  she  was  anything  but  sweet 
tempered  ;  but  the  husband  of  the  old  lady  would  say  to  her,  ' '  My  dear,  it 
is  not  worth  while  for  you  and  me  to  quarrel,  for  we  will  have  to  make  it  up 
afterwards. "  And  so  there  is  no  use  in  these  two  churches  quarrelling ;  and 
I  think  now,  historically,  that  we  have  been  taught  this  lesson  —  that  it  is 
not  worth  our  while,  in  the  future,  ever  to  quarrel,  for  we  have  to  make  it 
up  again.  [Laughter.]  Well,  sir,  as  I  believe  this  Reunion  is  in  accordance 
with  the  wiU  of  God,  I  have  given  it  my  whole  soul,  and  I  rejoice  in  the 
belief  that  God  wiU  bless  it,  and  make  it  a  blessing  to  our  country  and  to 
the  world.  But,  Moderators,  we  must  be  humble ;  we  must  be  prayerful, 
we  must  be  devoted  to  our  Master's  cause  and  glory,  that  we  may  have  His 
continued  favor  —  for  without  his  blessing,  our  means,  our  numerical 
strength,  our  intelligence  and  our  wealth  will  avail  nothing.  Oh,  let  us  lie  low 
at  his  feet,  and  implore  God  to  restrain  us  from  pride,  and  ambition,  and 
self-seeking,  and  enable  us  as  his  servants  to  seek  his  honor  and  the  pros- 
perity of  his  Church. 

I  feel,  sir,  that  my  work  is  nearly  done,  and  in  a  few  months,  if  I  may  bt- 
allowed  by  my  brethren,  I  expect  to  retire  from  the  official  position  I  have 
occupied,  and  resign  my  place  to,  I  trust,  abler  hands.  But  in  my  retirement 
I  shall  not  cease  to  pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem.  I  shall  watch  whUe  I 
live,  with  intense  interest,  for  the  developments  of  God's  Providence,  and  the 
progress  of  His  Church.  It  is  now  nearly  half  a  century  since  I  have  been  in 
communion,  uninterruptedly,  with  this  church,  as  a  private  member,  and  as 
minister  of  the  gospel,  and  I  have  endeavored  to  promote  its  interests. 
But  the  men  of  my  generation  have  nearly  aU  passed  away,  and  the  few 
of  us  that  remain  will  soon  disappear ;  but  while  we  have  life  and  breath, 
we  wiU  pray  God  to  bless  this  good  old  Presbyterian  Church,  and  make  it  a 
blessing  to  this  nation  and  to  the  world.  Let  us  go  to  work  with  a  will ; 
with  energy,  with  perseverance ;  and  let  this  spirit  of  activity  pervade  the 
whole  Church.  I  would  close  by  repeating  an  expression  that  I  had  occasion 
to  use  a  little  while  ago :  Let  the  bugle  sound  the  advance  along  the  entire 
line ;  and  let  us,  as  one  united  phalanx,  move  forward  in  the  name  and  for 
the  sake  of  the  glory  of  Christ,  and  the  spiritual  conquest  of  this  and  aU  other 
lands.     [Long-continued  applause.] 

DR.  WILLI.\3I  ADAMS'S   ADDRESS. 

I,  too,  thank  God  that  I  am  permitted  to  see  this  day.  Many  have  desired 
to  see  it,  but  have  been  denied  the  sight.  Four  of  the  Joint  Committee  as 
originally  constituted — Braiiierd,  Krebs,  Gurley,  and  Brown  —  have  gone  to 
their  reward.  If  the  spirits  of  the  departed  are  permitted  to  take  cognizance 
of  affairs  upon  the  earth,  I  have  no  doubt  these  brethren  are  bendmg  over  us, 
and  sharing  in  our  joy. 

"  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest."     "  This  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  mar- 


566  PRESBYTERLV2T    CIIUllCH. 


vellous  in  our  eyes."  None  but  those  who  were  originally  on  that  Committee 
can  comprehend  all  the  difficulties,  misgivings,  and  apprehensions  which  they 
felt  when,  by  no  seeking  of  their  own,  they  were  brought  together  for  theu 
first  conference  on  a  cold,  wintry  day.  Those  diiiiculties  and  misgiTuigs  are 
now  behind  us.  To-day,  after  many  wrestlings  with  fear,  we  say,  as  the 
angel  to  the  patriarch  of  old,  "  Let  me  go,  for  the  morning  breateth."  We 
have  crossed  the  ford  Jabbok :  alienated  brethren  have  met :  Esau  and  Jacob 
falling  upon  each  other's  neck,  kissing  and  weeping. 

It  is  a  beautiful  custom  in  the  Moravian  Chmx;h  —  I  was  quite  startled  by 
its  novelty  on  the  first  occasion,  when  Dr.  Muhlenberg  came  round  from  one 
side  of  the  Communion  table  and  gave  me  his  hand,  —  at  a  certain  point  in 
the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  for  each  communicant  to  grasp  the 
hand  of  his  neighbor,  saying  ' '  Here  is  my  heart,  and  here  is  my  hand. "  I  did 
not  know,  Messrs.  Moderators,  when  you  joined  your  hands  just  now  in  that 
symbolic  act  of  Union,  but  that  you  were  about  to  j)ropose,  after  the  Mora- 
vian method,  that  the  whole  constituency  of  these  Assemblies  should  repeat 
the  act.  [A  voice,  "  It's  not  too  late  to  do  it  yet."  Scarcely  had  Dr.  Adams 
uttered  the  sentence,  when  the  whole  audience  caught  the  idea  and  enacted  it 
most  heartUy,  every  one  taking  his  neighbor  by  the  hand,  and  repeating  in 
many  instances  the  words,  "  Here  is  my  heart,  and  here  is  my  hand."] 

It  is  not  often,  I  am  told,  that  here  in  Pittsburg  the  sun  and  the  moon  are 
seen  to  shine  so  brightly  as  during  these  passing  days  and  nights.  I  am  not 
superstitious ;  but  I  am  reminded  that  on  a  certain  occasion  Luther  looked 
out  of  thfe  window,  and  said,  ' '  I  see  a  sign  in  the  heavens :  the  firmament 
upheld  by  no  visible  pUlars."  These  are  the  halcyon  days  of  which  Virgil 
sang,  when  ' '  birds  of  calm,  with  sUver  plumage,  sat  and  swung  on  the  pUant 


Perhaps  the  crowds  of  people  who  hung  upon  our  procession  to  this  place 
have  been  ready  to  ask,  "  Wliat  does  all  this  mean?  "  "  What  was  the  cause 
of  this  old  division  ?  "  and  "  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  present  Reunion  ?  " 
The  first  thing  which  this  occasion  signifies  is  a  magnanimous  forgetfxxlness 
of  the  past.  We  forgive  and  forget  even  as  God  ' '  remembers  our  sins  no 
more  forever."  When  fi-act\u-ed  limbs  are  in  the  veiy  act  of  knitting  to- 
gether, it  is  no  time  to  undo  the  bandages  and  scrape  the  bones.  Let  the 
things  which  are  past  sink  like  lead  in  the  great  waters. 

For  the  future,  this  occasion  means  liberality  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word. 
Unessential  differences  will  not  be  allowed  to  divide  us;  diversities  will 
result  in  harmony;  and  as  for  narrowness  and  exclusiveness,  we  mean  to 
show  that  scholarship  and  piety  and  the  whole  spirit  of  the  New  Testament, 
as  expressed  in  our  symbols,  by  this  act  of  union,  publicly  rebuke  them. 

The  occasion  means,  moreover,  progress  in  our  work  as  a  Church.  In 
recent  debaief  and  negotiations  we  have  had  frequ'!nt  occasion  to  refer  to 
"our  Standards."  The  word  >St<!/idiird  may  be  used  in  several  different 
senses.     Ileie  in  Pittsbui^  where  they  manufacture  iron  so  estensivelj',  it 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1860.  5*^7 

may  mean  an  upright  pillar,  stiff  and  hard  and  cold,  such  as  is  used  to  hold 
up  the  deck  of  a  boat  or  the  floor  of  a  warehouse.  There  is  another  sense  in 
which  we  may  use  the  word  Standard,  as  a  symbol  of  onr  faith  and  polity. 
It  is  the  banner  which  we  raise  at  the  head  of  our  line.  It  is  not  something 
on  which  we  are  to  stand  motionless  and  still,  as  if  it  could  bear  us  up,  but 
something  which,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  we  are  to  bear  onwards  from 
conquering  to  conquer.  It  has  been  asked  what  are  we  to  do  henceforth 
■with  those  old-time  and  familiar  designations.  Old  School  and  New  School.  A 
very  simple  arrangement  has  been  suggested  —  even  that,  as  Old  and  New 
Schools  are  brought  together  on  this  occasion,  the  initial  letters  O  and  N  should 
be  brought  together  also,  leaving  the  two  SS  on  either  flank,  and  we  have  that 
expressive  word  SONS  —  sons  of  one  and  the  same  Presbyterian  Church  — 
sons  of  God  in  one  household  of  faith.  The  old  blue  banner  of  Presbyterian- 
ism,  which  in  former  times  was  borne  by  brave  and  godly  men  over  the  hills 
and  heather  of  Scotland,  with  its  new  armorial  quarterings,  Learning,  Lib- 
erty, Charity,  Magnanimity,  Piety,  let  us  lift  it  higher,  and  bear  it  on,  in  the 
name  and  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  in  our  great  work  of  the  future. 

We  were  aU  struck  with  the  beautiful  symbolism  of  the  place  where  we 
are  assembled,  the  Allegheny  and  the  Monongahela  meeting  to  form  the 
Ohio.  That  figure  is  daguerreotyped  on  all  our  memories.  It  has  occurred  to 
me  that  the  resemblance  might  be  carried  yet  further.  The  Ohio  has  many 
tributaries.  I  cannot  recall  them  aU.  But,  as  it  runs  to  the  sea,  the  Wabash, 
and  the  Cumberland,  and  the  Tennessee  flow  into  it,  and  swell  the  flood.  One 
speaker  said  this  morning  that  we  should  never  see  another  scene  like  this.  I 
hope  and  expect  that  we  may.  We  camiot  forget  our  Presbyterian  brethren 
of  the  South,  or  other  organizations  having  our  own  faith  and  polity ;  and  we 
trust  the  time  will  come,  when,  after  manj^  divisions  and  dispersions,  there  will 
be  flowings  together  of  many  others  into  one  Church  of  avigmented  numbers 
and  vigor  and  joy.  Those  who  live  long  enough  will,  as  I  believe,  see  grander 
and  happier  occasions  even  than  this.  I  was  somewhat  afraid  just  now, 
when  my  excellent  friend  and  brother.  Dr.  Musgrave,  announced  his  puqoose 
ere  long  to  resign  his  official  position,  that  he  was  about  to  speak  of  his  antic- 
ipated departure  to  a  higher  world.  Now,  some  of  us  have  a  special  favor  to 
ask  of  Dr.  Musgrave,  Dr.  McGill,  and  these  other  fathers  in  the  Church: 
Don't  pray  Nunc  dimittls  too  hard.  We  greatly  desire  that  you  should  live  to 
be  the  objects  of  respect  and  love  ;  to  see  for  yourselves  the  happy  results  of 
the  union  now  consummated,  and  to  take  part  in  other  reunions  equally 
important  and  blessed.  Our  hearts  are  enlarged  the  more  we  love.  It  seems 
a  little  thing  to  ad\ase  or  to  do,  but  let  us,  instead  of  being  kept  apart  by  any 
cliewmx  de  frUe  oi  prejudice,  cultivate  each  other's  acquaintance,  assured  that 
the  more  we  know  each  other  the  more  we  shall  confide  and  love. 

Our  eloquent  friend.  Dr.  Musgrave,  has  just  reminded  us  that  he  was  a 
Calvinist,  and  as  such  a  believer  in  the  "  f oreordination  of  whatsoever  comes 
to  pass."     He  has  reminded  us  also  of  the  distinction  recognized  in  our  theo- 


568  PRESEYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

logical  books  between  the  permissive  and  the  efficient  will  of  God.  I  do  not 
know  that  from  my  position  I  should  have  ventured  to  emphasize  this  distinc- 
tion, since,  if  my  memory  serves  me,  we  are  accustomed  to  refer  to  God's 
permissive  foreordination  such  events  only  as  are  especially  mysterious,  like 
the  introduction  of  sin  into  the  world.  But  since  my  brother  has  referred  to 
the  disruption  as  somelww  permitted  and  so  foreordained^  I  may  add,  concern- 
ing this  matter  of  pacification  and  reconcilement,  it  is  so  obviously  in  accord- 
ance with  God's  positive  and  "  efficacious''''  purpose,  that  I  shall  not  be  sus- 
pected of  anything  extreme  in  New  School  Theology  if  I  should  say  that  we 
have  all  been  willing  to  have  a  part  in  its  accomplishment,  giving  "great 
diligence  to  make  our  calling  and  election  sure."     [Applause.] 

Dr.  Adams  here  referred  to  the  good  service  done  by  some  of  the  origiual 
members  of  the  Joint  Committee,  whom  it  would  be  iuvidious  to  mention  by 
name,  but  who,  amid  manifold  embarrassments,  contributed  so  much  to  this 
day's  happy  issue,  and  he  concluded  by  a  summons  to  all  Presbyterians  to  lift 
aloft  their  standard,  having  upon  it  Christ's  name  and  crown,  and  to  bear  it 
down  all  the  rivers,  over  aU  the  prairies,  up  and  down  the  slopes  of  the  moun- 
taius,  all  over  our  own  land,  and  iato  heathen  lauds,  so  that  on  earth  and  in 
heaven  there  may  be  joy  because  of  this  day. 

At  the  close  of  Dr.  Adams's  address,  tlie  Kev.  Edwin 
F.  Hatfield,  D.D.,  was  called  on  to  offer  prayer,  wMch 
lie  did  ivitli  great  f ei'vency. 

It  was  then  moved  by  the  Rev.  Ravaiid  K.  Rodgers, 
D.D.,  that  the  cordial  thanks  of  the  Reunited  Chm'ch 
be  returned  to  the  members  of  the  Joint  Committee, 
through  whose  labors  of  love,  by  the  blessing  of  God, 
this  great  and  glorious  result  has  been  brought  about. 
This  Resolution  was  unanimously  adopted. 

The  Rev.  Dk.  Samuel  W.  Fisher  then  introduced  a 
paper,  which  he  read,  closing  with  the  resolutions  foUow- 


F.\THERS  AND  BRETHREN,  —  It  is  not  my  intention  so  much  to  make  a 
speech  as  it  is  to  read  a  short  document.  I  was  directed  by  the  Joint  Com- 
mittee on  Union  to  prepare  a  document  of  this  kind,  to  be  read  on  this  oc- 
casion. The  sentiments,  I  doubt  not,  will  be  approved.  Its  defecis  and 
faults  are  my  own. 

( Dr.  Fisher  was  crowded  with  duties  of  the  Com- 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  509 

mittee  of   AiTangements,  of  wliicli   be  was  Cliairman, 
and  was  almost  disabled  by  a  severe  cold.) 

In  the  Providence  of  God,  the  two  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
m  the  United  States  of  America  have  to-day  become  one  —  in  form  and  in 
fact  —  one  Church.  This  is  an  event  so  unparalleled  in  the  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory of  this  country,  and  almost  of  the  world,  as  to  attract  attention  and  awa- 
ken expectation  of  correspondiag  results  among  all  those  who  love  the  cause 
of  the  Redeemer. 

This  event  is  specially  significant  of  the  taspiiing  presence  and  unifying 
power  of  the  Divine  Spirit.  To  that  greab  body  of  Christians,  this  day  united 
in  one  ecclesiastical  organization,  it  constitutes  an  era  ia  their  historj'  most 
memorable  and  auspicious ;  memorable,  as  a  most  triumphant  exhibition 
to  aU  men  of  the  power  of  Christian  love  ;  ausjna'ous,  not  as  an  era  of  deca- 
dence and  torpor  and  death,  but  of  enlightened  progress  in  the  great  work, 
to  accomplish  which  Christ  has  constituted  the  Church  militant.  It  speaks 
with  the  voice  of  God  to  our  profoundest  gratitude,  demanding  the  expres- 
sion of  that  gratitude  not  merely  iu  words,  but  in  deeds,  in  heroic  Christ- 
ian deeds  answering  to  the  greatness  of  the  Divine  Goodness. 

In  this  event,  there  are  outflashtugs  of  the  Diviae  Spirit  to  make  this 
Church  a  more  signal,  efficient  co-worker  with  Christ  in  the  evangelization  of 
this  continent  and  the  world.  It  summons  us,  Avhile  we  maintain  that  great 
system  of  truth  which  Paiol  so  luminously  unfolded,  and  which  our  Church 
has  so  gloriously  upheld  through  aU  the  centuries,  to  give  ourselves,  out 
sons  and  daughters,  and  our  wealth,  more  perfectly  to  the  work  of  saving 
souls. 

Let  us,  then,  in.  humble  dependence  upon  our  dear  Redeemer,  with  deep 
humility  in  view  of  our  past  inefficiency  and  present  unworthiness,  and  as  an 
expression  of  our  devout  gratitude  to  Him  who  has  brought  this  once  dis- 
severed and  now  united  Church  up  to  this  Mount  of  Transfiguration,  sig- 
nalize this  most  blessed  and  joyful  Union  with  an  offering  in  some  good  de- 
gree commensurate  with  the  pecuniary  gifts  He  has  bestowed  upon  us. 
Therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  By  the  ministers,  elders,  and  members  of  the  Church,  here  as- 
sembled, as  in  the  presence  and  behalf  of  the  entire  body  of  the  disciples  con- 
nected with  us  in  this  land,  and  of  those  beloved  missionaries  on  foreign 
shores,  now  meditating  our  action  with  tender  and  prayerful  interest,  that  it  ia 
incumbent  on  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America  —  one 
in  organization,  one  in  faith,  one  in  effort  —  to  make  a  special  offering  to  the 
treasury  of  our  Lord  of  one  million  of  dollars  ;  and  we  pledge  ourselves  first  of 
all  to  seek,  in  our  daily  petitions,  the  blessing  of  God  to  make  this  resolution 
effectual.  And  second,  that  we  will,  A\dth  untiring  perseverance  and  personal 
effort,  endeavor  to  animate  the  whole  Church  with  the  like  purpose,  and  to 


570  PEESBYTERIx\.N    CHURCH. 

becure  the  accomplishment  of  this  great  work  before  the  third  Thui-sday  of 
May,  1871. 

I  have  another  resolution,  Mr.  Moderator,  and  I  wish  to  state  that  the  sum 
which  is  named  here  is  one  that  can  be  easily  altered.  It  has  been  suggested 
that  the  sum  should  be  five  millions  of  dollars.  [Applause.]  Five  millioua 
of  dollars  —  and  I  am  sure  that  when  we  look  upon  the  Church  as  it  is  to-day, 
its  wealth,  and  what  it  is  able  to  do  with  Christian  self-denial,  this  sum  ia 
small  enough.  Most  readily  would  I  place  this  in  the  resolution ;  but  the 
matter  is  wholly  at  your  disposal.  The  fact  is,  it  is  easy  for  us  to  talk,  but 
hard  work  to  act ;  and  in  my  ears  all  this  morning  one  text  is  ringing,  and 
that  is  my  speech  on  this  occasion,  ia  moving  this  resolution.  "  Forgettiug 
the  things  that  are  behind  and  reaching  forth  to  those  things  that  are  before, 
let  us  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  our  high  caUing."  This  prize 
we  are  pressing  after  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  That  is  my  speech  ;  for  we 
come  here  to-day  to  bury  all  our  past  suspicions,  enmities,  and  jealousies ;  to 
forget  them,  and  bury  them  in  the  ground  forever. 

We  come  here  not  only  to  forget  the  past  in  that  respect,  but  to  forget  it 
in  the  greatness  of  the  hour.  We  propose  that  the  doings  of  this  Church  in 
the  future  shall  be  related  to  the  doiugs  of  this  Church  in  the  past,  as  the 
income  and  work  of  the  United  States  Government  of  America,  in  1889,  are 
related  to  the  income  and  work  of  that  government  in  the  year  1789. 

There  are  several  other  speakers  to  follow  me,  and  I  do  not  propose  to 
detain  you.  This  is  a  family  gatheriug,  and  I  have  one  thing  which  I  simply 
wish  to  say.  I  said  there  are  some  things  which  ve  want  to  forget,  but  there 
are  some  things  we  will  not  forget.  We  will  not  forget,  Mr.  Moderator  [turn- 
ing to  Dr.  Jacobus],  when  we  were  boys  together,  when  we  sat  together,  and 
were  reared  together  in  the  same  Church,  and  under  the  training  of  the 
same  ministers.  We  wiU  not  forget  when  we  sat  together  at  the  feet  of 
Alexander,  and  Miller,  and  Breckem-idge,  and  others  who  have  gone  to  their 
reward,  as  weU  as  Dr.  Hodge,  who  stiQ  remains.  We  wUi  not  forget  that 
while  wc  were  in  our  coui^se  in  the  Seminary  the  stroke  came  which  sent  you 
in  one  direction  and  me  in  another,  and  from  that  time  until  to-day  we  have 
never  met  as  members  of  one  church.  And  now  I  am  too  fidl  for  utterance. 
To-day  we  are  brethren  in  one  household  of  faith.  We  are  brought  together, 
and  memory  bridges  the  thirty  years  that  have  gone  by  since  that  hoiu*  of  di- 
vergence, and  enables  us  to  feel  that  the  same  warm  current  of  affection  is  in 
our  veins  now  as  flowed  in  them  then.  We  were  strangers  to  rivalry  and  sus- 
])icion  —  separated,  but  not  opposed  ;  and  we  had  the  same  hopes  in  reference 
to  a  united  Church  in  the  futiu-c.  I  say  that  there  are  many  here  to-day  who 
will  remember  such  things  that  are  not  to  be  forgotten,  though  the  fact  of 
the  separation  is  past.  The  Union  has  come,  and  now  let  us  be  up  and  doing, 
forgettiug  the  past,  and  with  Christian  earnestness  let  us  go  forward,  leaning 
on  God.  Let  us  carry  into  execution  a  resolution  something  like  this:  A/ul 
further. 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  571 

^^  Sesolved,  That  the  Stated  Clerics  be  directed  to  print  this  Resolution  and 
append  to  it  the  names  of  the  Moderators,  the  Clerks,  and  the  Union  Com- 
mittee, and  the  members  of  the  Assemblies  just  dissolved,  and  send  it  to  all 
the  pastors  of  the  Churches." 

A  motion  was  made,  and  carried  imanimously,  to 
amend  the  first  resolution  so  as  to  make  the  thank- 
offering  to  be  raised  the  sum  of  $5,000,000  instead  of 
$1,000,000.  This  amendment  was  promptly  seconded 
by  Dr.  John  Hall,  of  New  York,  who  said : 

On  the  personal  side  of  this  augnst  transaction,  in  which  we  are  permitted 
to  take  our  part  to-day,  there  is  nothing,  if  there  had  been  anything,  left  for 
me  to  say.  I  was  not  in  the  Disunion,  and  I  have  not  shared  in  any  of  the 
feelings  incident  to  that  Disunion;  and,  practically,  to  me  personally,  the 
Eeunion  happily  effected  to-day  will  make  no  very  great  change. 

I  must,  therefore,  speak  of  the  public  aspect  of  this  transaction.  We  are 
here  to-day,  as  one  United  Presbyterian  Church,  by  the  grace  and  mercy  of 
God,  a  free  Church  in  a  free  land,  a  United  Chui-ch  in  a  United  country. 
[Applause.  ] 

There  are  at  this  moment  many  questions  being  raised  in  this  country  upon 
the  subject  of  the  administration  and  government  of  the  Chtirch.  We  are 
not  bound  to  be  controversial,  and  I  suppose  we  should  not  be,  in  any 
distinctive  sense.  We  shall,  however,  throw  some  light  upon  that  great 
question :  if  we  can  exhibit  the  spectacle  of  a  body  of  Christian  people, 
governed  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  with  a  form  of  government  that  in  its  aim 
is  analogous  to  the  government  of  the  State ;  that  aims  to  conform  the 
people  to  the  government  of  the  State ;  that  gives  full  play  to  individual 
conscience,  while  it  gives  full  expression  to  the  whole  ;  if  we  can  exhibit  to 
the  world  this  Church,  doing  its  work  iu  saving  immortal  souls  —  then  we 
will  do  much  to  guide  the  inquiries,  and  shape  the  convictions  of  those  who 
ask  "How  is  the  Church  to  be  governed;  how  is  its  administration  to  be 
carried  on  ?  " 

At  this  moment  the  Sabbath,  which  is  so  dear  to  us,  is  perilled  in  some 
degTee  over  this  land.  The  Sabbath,  like  its  Lord,  is  in  danger  of  being  got 
away  with.  The  multitude,  in  many  places,  are  crying  out,  "  Away  with 
it,"  as  the  multitude  in  olden  times  cried  concerning  Him.  And  when  the 
question  is  brought  before  courts  and  rulers,  it  happens  sometimes,  as  it  hai>- 
pened  in  His  case,  that  it  is  condemned  upon  the  gi'ound  of  a  supposed  ijolit- 
ical  expediency.  There  is  work  for  the  Church  in  holding  up  the  Sabbath, 
and  teaching  in  all  this  broad  America,  "  Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to 
keep  it  holy."     [Applause.] 


572  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

From  the  immeuse  material  resources  of  this  great  land,  there  is  a  stroug 
temptation  to  mammon-worship  among  us.  We  are  tempteji  to  set  up  a 
great  golden  image,  and  to  call  upon  our  young  men  everywhere  to  fall  do-«Ti 
and  worship  it.  There  is  nothing  that  will  save  the  young  men  from  £his, 
but  the  Truth  of  God.  There  is  nothing  that  will  make  them  bold  and  fear- 
less confessors  of  the  truth,  but  the  truth  in  their  hearts ;  and  there  is 
nothing  that  will  strengthen  the  Church  to  do  her  duty  in  this  matter,  but 
the  truth.  And  this  united  Church,  if  she  would  be  faithful  to  her  King  and 
Head,  may  at  length  be  able  to  dash  to  pieces  this  idol.  This  seUlslmess 
of  the  world  can  only  be  held  in  check  by  holy  living,  and  holy  communion, 
and  Christian  unselfishness,  and  a  marked  magnanimity,  and  prayer  for  the 
blessing  of  the  Lord  upon  His  Church.  Fathers  and  Brethren,  let  us  show 
what  we  think  of  this  selfishness.  Let  us  show  what  we  think  of  it,  by  for- 
getting ourselves,  and  losing  ourselves  in  that  magnificent  enterprise  which 
He  sets  before  us,  when  He  gives  us  this  land  to  be  subdued  under  the  scep- 
tre of  Jesus  Christ.     This  day  He  makes  us  one. 

In  the  valleys  of  Switzerland,  where  the  people  are  isolated  and  apart,  in 
some  places,  owing  to  the  temperature,  they  sometimes  become  afliicted'with 
a  sad  and  frightful  disease.  It  is  said  that  the  only  ciu-e  for  this  is  to  take 
them  out  of  these  valleys,  and  bring  them  to  a  higher  and  healthier  atmos- 
phere. Fathers  and  Brethi'en,  if  we  have  been  thus  isolated  by  this  seclu- 
sion, if  the  barriers  have  done  us  mischief,  God  breaks  them  down  to-day. 
He  permits  us  to  go  up  the  mountains,  where  we  have  not  been  before,  and 
we  may  breathe  a  piu-er  air.  Let  this  strengthen  us,  and  shed  a  healing 
inliuence  upon  us,  and  let  us  make  this  a  day  for  personal,  spiritual  devoted- 
ness  and  consecration  to  Christ,  remembering  the  promises  that  he  has  made 
unto  his  people. 

Many  years  ago,  when  I  was  a  pastor  in  another  land,  I  had  among  my 
parishioners  two  very  old  men  —  brothers.  Their  families  had  grown  up  veiy 
close  to  each  other.  In  their  middle  life  these  two  brothers  had  quarreUod. 
One  of  these  two  brothers  became  sick,  and  he  had  every  reason  to  believe 
that  he  would  die  in  the  course  of  a  little  time.  I  was  sent  for.  I  spoke, 
and  read,  and  prayed  with  him,  as  was  my  duty.  I  told  him  that  if  his 
repentance  was  sincere,  he  would  make  a  reconciliation  with  his  aged 
brother.  I  teU  you  it  was  a  hard  thing  to  bring  him  to  that  point,  even  now 
on  his  death -bed,  to  allow  me  to  send  for  his  brother.  And  then  I  had  to  go 
to  the  brother,  and  bring  him  to  the  same  point.  Hy  and  by,  the  consent  of 
the  old  man  was  obtained,  and  he  came  into  the  sick-room  of  his  brother, 
and  some  of  his  children,  and  his  brother's  children,  were  there,  and  the  old 
men  were  there  face  to  face.  "Brother!"  said  the  man,  sick  on  his  death- 
bed. "Brother!"  said  the  old  man,  standing  by  his  side;  and  neither  of 
them  could  say  any  more.  The  one  bent  down  upon,  and  kissed  the  other. 
They  kissed  as  little  children,  and  the  gray  hairs  of  the  two  old  men  miugled 
together.     They  put  their  arma  around  each  other,  and  lifted  up  their  voices 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1809.  573 

and  wept ;  and  they  prayed  tog'etlier  that  God  would  make  this  reconciliation 
permanent,  and  accept  it  through  Jesus  Christ ;  and  we  all  gave  thanks  to 
Almighty  God  again  and  again,  that  his  grace  —  his  grace  —  could  conquei 
such  strong  hatred. 

We  are  met  and  reconciled  to-day.  I  have  seen  many  tears  fall  to-day. 
These  are  gracious  days,  in  which  you  will  bury  forever  out  of  sight  all  the 
things  that  have  divided  and  disunited  you  heretofore.  Let  us  thank  God 
that  we  are  reconciled  here  to-day,  not  because  we  are  dying,  but  because 
we  are  living.  We  are  reconciled,  not  in  view  of  the  grave,  but  in  view  of  ■ 
the  battle-field  to  which  the  Lord  summons  us  to  light,  the  right  against  the 
wrong,  to  fight  for  Christ  against  the  devil.  He  marshals  us  to  that  battle- 
field. The  pUlar  of  cloud  and  fire  has  guided  us  into  this  large  and  wealthy 
place. 

Let  us  stand  up  for  the  pure,  holy  truth  of  the  Gospel,  and  for  pure  disci- 
pline, and  for  a  pure  and  Christian  life  ;  and  while  we  do  so  stand  up,  He,  to 
whom  the  silver  and  the  gold  belongs,  will  bless  us.  Let  us  not  trust  in 
riches,  but  take  our  stand  beside  the  cross,  lest  otherwise  we  transmute  our 
gold  into  dross.  I  have  special  pleasure  in  seconding  this  resolution,  and  I 
shaU  have  special  pleasure  in  making  it  a  real  and  glorious  fact. 

This  was  followed  by  the  address  of  Hon.  William 
Strong,  now  of  the  Supreme  Court,  U.  S. 

I  cannot  speak.  My  heart  is  too  full,  and  I  have  no  words  with  which  to 
express  my  emotions.  I  cannot  attempt  to  describe  my  joy,  and  it  would  be 
vain  were  I  to  make  the  attempt. 

I  have  listened  to  aU  that  has  been  said  this  morning,  and  I  have  rejoiced 
in  aU  that  has  been  said.  I  have  appreciated  the  beautifvd  symbols  —  the 
expressive  figures  —  by  which  the  union  of  these  two  great  bodies  has  been 
represented ;  and  yet  they  are  all  inadequate  to  exp'ess  my  feelings.  I  cannot 
think  of  the  junction  of  these  branches  of  the  Church  as  a  marriage,  simply 
because  we  are  too  near  of  kin  for  that,  and  always  have  been  too  near  of 
kin  for  that.      [Laughter.] 

Nor  are  we  in  all  respects  like  rivers,  for  Ave  have  not  different  sources ;  we 
have  one  source  in  God,  the  Father,  through  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God.  We 
have  the  same  spirit ;  we  are  mingling  into  one,  as  kindred  drops  from  one 
stream,  and  that  stream  is  the  Spirit  of  the  living  God.  I  can,  therefore, 
find  no  language  to  express  my  ideas  in  regard  to  this  union  of  the  church. 

We  have  been  accustomed  to  think  of  ourselves  as  different  bodies.  In  past 
days,  in  history,  there  were  persons  who  called  themselves  Old  School  Presby- 
terians, and  they  thought  they  could  see  certain  quaUties  in  New  School  Pres- 
byterians not  according  to  their  taste  and  judgment ;  and  so  there  were  New 


574  PKESr.YTEKTAN    CHURCH. 

School  Presbytenans  who  thought  they  saw  a  peculiar  stiffne-<ts  in  their  Old 
School  brethren. 

But  I  am  unable  to  discover  in  this  large  Assembly  a  stagle  Old  School 
Presbyterian,  or  a  single  New  School  Presbyterian.  No  man  can  say  of  him- 
self now,  "  I  am  an  Old  School  Presbyterian,"  or,  "I  am  a  New  School  Pres- 
byterian." [Applause.]  By  the  Articles  which  we  have  ratified  by  our  Pres- 
byteries, and  which  we  have  resolved,  ia  both  Assemblies,  to  observe,  and  to 
be  of  binding  force,  we  are  aU  Presbyterians,  members  of  the  ' '  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America  "  —  one  spirit,  one  name,  one  purse. 
[Applause.]     This  union  calls  ^is  to  higlier  tcork  tlian  ener. 

The  Honokable  Charles  D.  Drake,  United  States 
f^enator  from  Missouri,  Ruling  Elder,  next  addressed 
the  audience,  whose  attention  was  unflagging  to  the  end. 
He  said : 

Two  great  bodies  of  Christians  to-day  change  their  orbits,  and  merge  them 
into  one  —  doing  in  the  Christian  world  what  is  impossible  in  the  natural 
world,  that  great  constellations  should  change  their  orbits  and  run  together. 
When  they  change  theii-  orbits  ia  the  natural  world  and  come  in  contact,  rum 
and  desolation  is  the  result ;  but  here  these  two  great  Christian  constellations 
come  hereafter  to  have  a  common  orbit,  and  all  move  hereafter  forever  around 
the  great  central  Sun  of  the  Christian  system  —  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  My 
brethren,  let  us  not  forget  in  this  moment,  that  at  last  that  Sun  is  all  that 
binds  us  together.  His  name  on  the  first  page  of  the  New  Testament  stands 
for  ever  and  ever  as  the  glorious  centre  light  of  the  whole  Christian  system. 
The  angel  said,  ' '  They  shall  call  his  name  Jesus,  for  he  shall  save  his  people 
from  their  sins."  And  there,  in  that  name,  on  that  first  page  of  the  great 
word  of  God,  stands  the  Sun  of  the  Christian  system,  shedding  his  light  upon 
all  succeeding  generations,  and  at  last  to  gather  aU  the  world  into  one  brother- 
hood ia  Him.  And,  my  brethren,  let  us  not  forget,  oh,  let  us  not  forget,  that 
he  was  called  Jesus  because  he  was  to  save  his  people  from  their  sios.  He  saves 
us  to-day  as  individuals  from  our  sins ;  He  saves  us  to-day  as  churches  from 
the  sins  that  have  marked  our  pathway  in  the  days  of  our  separation,  to  be 
remembered  against  us,  according  to  his  promise,  no  more  forever.  Brethren, 
let  us  not  imagine  that  this  Revmion  can  take  place  and  can  go  along  from  the 
very  beginning  without  some  friction.  I  look  for  no  such  thing.  But  let  us 
be  careful  what  use  we  put  the  friction  to.  There  is  not  a  single  cog  or  pinion 
in  this  watch  that  I  hold  in  my  hand,  but  was  once  so  rough  that  if  you  at- 
tempted to  put  them  together,  they  never  could  have  been  brought  to  work. 
Friction  was  necessary  to  polish  them,  imd  to  make  them  smooth  and  fit  to 
work  together.  Let  us  be  sure  that  in  this  reunited  Church,  wherever  friction 
comes,  it  comes  only  to  polish  and  to  brighten,  not  to  ruin  and  to  make  in- 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  575 

capable  of  action-  And  if  we  make  this  use  of  friction,  how  are  we  to  do  it  ? 
Only,  brethren,  by  keeping  every  joint  and  pinion  well  oiled  with  prayer. 
That  is  the  way  that  the  friction  that  will  come  in  spite  of  all  that  we  can  do 
—  and  will  come  all  the  more  because  we  are  Presbj'terians  —  [Laughter] —  that 
is  the  way  in.  which  it  can  be  made  to  bring  everything  to  a  smooth  and  polished 
surface,  so  that  in  a  little  time  this  reunited  Church  shall  be  not  only  moving 
in  haimouy,  but  wUl  be  the  grand  time-piece  of  the  Christian  religion  in  the 
whole  world;  and  it  will  go  on,  and  it  wiU  tell  the  time,  minute  by  minute, 
and  hour  by  hour,  marking  the  progress  of  the  faith  of  Cluist,  u.ntil  at  last  all 
shall  end  in  the  glorious  coming  of  its  Divine  Head,  and  the  work  of  aU  hu- 
man agencies  and  time-pieces  shall  be  done  forever,  and  all  shall  be  taken 
home  to  God, 

Senator   Drake  was   followed   by 

Elder   Henry   Day,    Esq.,    of   New   York. 

Brethren  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States  of  America.  I 
do  not  say  Moderators  —  their  diity  is  done  —  but  this  our  glorious  Church 
remains.  I  am  struck  to-day  vnth  the  grand  idea  of  what  has  been  accom- 
plished in  the  Pro-\-idence  of  God  within  these  two  hours.  It  is  not  a  union 
of  the  brethren  here  merely.  It  is  not  a  union  only  of  the  hearts  that  are 
gathered  together  to-day  in  this  church.  It  is  a  union  of  four  hundred  thou- 
sand Christians  in  this  land.  If  I  could  set  before  you  an  array  of  the 
churches  scattered  aU  over  our  land,  North,  South,  East,  and  West,  and  the 
mission  stations  in  foreign  lands,  and  put  the  picture  before  you,  then  I  could 
portray  what  has  been  done  within  these  last  two  or  three  days.  Thanks  be 
to  God  who  hath  done  this  work.  Brethren,  gTcat  crises  and  great  occasions, 
in  churches,  in  nations,  and  in  individual  history,  always  lay  great  responsi- 
bilities upon  those  by  whom  they  are  brought  about.  We  are  not  to  be  an 
exception  to  that  rule. 

You,  brethren,  representing  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States, 
have  put  yourselves  under  tremendous  resjwnsibility  in  this  matter.  This  is 
not  mainly  an  occasion  of  coming  together  that  we  may  show  our  strength 
and  our  numbers.  Why,  brethren,  we  have  come  out  before  Almighty  God, 
we  have  come  out  before  the  world,  we  have  brought  these  two  churches  to 
this  point  of  union,  and  what  have  we  sought  by  it?  What  tremendous 
responsibility  have  we  taken  upon  ourselves  to  the  Lord,  the  Head  of  the 
Church !  Great  power  has  been  put  into  our  hands,  and  the  Lord  —  the 
Head  of  the  Church  —  demands  that  we  use  it  for  his  praise  and  his  glory. 

I  wiU  not  attempt  to  say  anything  new.  Any  man  would  shrink  from  that 
after  what  has  been  said  upon  this  stage,  and  I  would  merely  gather  up  one 
or  two  sentiments  that  we  may  fasten  them  in  our  minds,  and  carry  them 
with  us  to  our  homes.     The  first  sentiment  is,  that  the  Lord  God  Almighty 


576  PKESBYTERIAX    CHURCH. 

has  brought  about  this  imion,  and  -woe  be  to  the  men,  or  the  man,  or  the  the- 
ologian, who  attempts  to  undo  it.  He  has  brought  us  to  this  through  disap- 
pointment and  reverses,  and  he  has  led  us  by  the  pillar  of  cloud  by  day,  and 
the  pillar  of  fire  by  night,  and  to-day  we  stand  on  the  hither  side  of  the 
Promised  Land.  If  we  stand  in  this  position,  what  then  have  we  to  do  ? 
Every  speaker  has  been  impressed  with  the  idea  that  we  have  something  to 
do.  Look  into  your  own  city  and  streets,  go  through  the  towns  along  your 
railways,  see  the  thousands  appealing  to  us  for  our  prayers,  and  then  you 
have  the  answer  to  the  question,  What  have  we  to  do  ?  What  have  we  to 
do  ?    We  have  everything  to  do.     How  are  we  to  do  it  ? 

As  I  was  walking  last  night,  under  a  fair  sky  and  a  beautiful  moon,  across 
the  majestic  bridge  that  spans  the  river  between  this  and  your  sister  city ;  as 
I  looked  up  and  down  the  river,  I  saw  the  lights  from  houses,  and  stores,  and 
river  craft,  —  I  saw  the  lights  scattered  all  along  that  stream,  and  that  every 
single  light  was  reflected  upon  the  bosom  of  the  river.  Every  one,  even  that 
of  the  humblest  widow,  was  reproduced  again.  It  occurred  to  me  that  is  the 
Church,  tlicit  is  the  Presbyterian  Church,  tJutt  is  the  Church  militant.  As  I 
looked  into  the  sky  and  saw  the  stars  shining  brightly,  and  they  too  reflected 
in  the  waters  of  the  river,  it  occurred  to  me  that  is  the  Church  triumphant. 
Now,  my  brethren,  that  is  what  we  want,  that  our  light  may  be  reflected 
upon  the  world.  Let  all,  let  every  widow,  let  every  child,  let  the  humblest, 
reproduce  their  light,  and  let  it  shine  out  upon  the  darkness  around  them. 
That  is  what  is  to  be  done  when  we  go  to  our  homes.      [Applause.  ] 

This  was  followed  by  the  addi'ess  of  the  Hon.  Wm. 
E.  Dodge. 

If  I  attempt  to  say  anything,  dear  brethren,  it  wiU  be  to  give  an  outburst 
of  my  heart,  in  the  words  of  the  Psalmist :  ' '  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and 
all  that  is  within  me,  bless  His  holy  name."  "  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul," 
for  the  privilege  of  living  to  see  this  day.  I  did  live  at  the  separation,  and 
my  heart  bled  at  the  separation,  and  I  thank  God  that  I  am  here  to-day,  to 
unite  with  you  in  ascriptions  of  praise  and  glory  to  God.  Hereafter,  our 
strong  men  —  our  honored  professors  —  wiU  not  spend  their  time  in  attempt- 
ing to  find  out  whether  we  differ  as  a  church,  but  in  the  determination  to 
Rtimulate  it  to  the  utmost  capacity,  so  that  every  member  of  this  united 
Church  may  go  forward  in  the  great  work  of  subduing  this  dying  world  to 
Jesus  Christ.  I  have  no  doubt  that  we  have  honestly  differed,  but  let  us  for- 
get aU  those  differences.  We  are  a  united  country,  and  if  we  would  be  united 
in  truth,  North  and  South,  and  be  one  great  country,  for  which  we  fought 
and  bled,  we  must  forget  all  past  differences.  So  in  the  Chiirch,  we  must 
forget  Old  School  and  New  School. 

The  interesting  anecdote  related  by  Dr.  HaU  reminds  me  of  one  which  J 
thinic  I  ought  to  relate  to  this  audience. 


THE   ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  577 

More  than  twenty  years  ago,  two  eminent  merchants  in  the  city  of  New 
York  commenced  business  together  poor,  but  they  prospered  year  by  year,  till 
they  had  rolled  up  an  immense  estate.  On  one  occasion  they  differed  upon  a 
matter  of  policy  in  business.  That  difference  grew  into  anger.  They  sepa- 
rated, each  believing  the  other  meant  wrong.  The  result  was  that  the  very 
next  day  there  was  a  dissolution  of  partnership,  and  for  ten  long  years  they 
never  spoke  to  each  other.  They  settled  their  business  through  mutual 
friends.  I  stood  in  a  large  room,  on  one  occasion  when  one  of  them  stood  in 
one  room  and  the  other  in  another,  because  they  would  not  speak  to  each 
other,  and  an  auctioneer  called  out  their  bids  on  stock  as  a  mutual  friend. 
They  grew  gray  in  their  differences.  Once,  one  of  them,  musing  in  his 
library,  thinking  of  the  origin  of  their  separation,  and  of  their  pleasure  in 
early  life,  at  last  the  thought  passed  through  his  mind,  ' '  Can  it  be  possible 
that  I  misunderstood  him?"  He  spent  a  sleepless  night,  and  in  the  morning 
he  went  to  a  mutual  friend  and  said,  "  Go  to  my  partner  and  see  if  he  meant 
so  and  so."  The  answer  was,  "  No,  I  never  thought  of  such  a  thing."  The 
mutual  friend  came  back  and  gave  the  reply.  "  Can  it  be  possible  that  we 
have  suffered  all  this  through  these  twenty  years,  and  have  gone  through  aU 
this,  simply  because  we  misunderstood  each  other,  or  thought  we  did  ?  "  A 
reconciliation  took  place,  that  bovmd  those  men  together  again,  and  they 
were  one.  They  Kved  together  as  friends  as  long  as  they  lived.  One  of  them 
recently  passed  away  to  his  last  account.  On  his  dying  bed  he  was  thankful 
to  God,  for  they  were  Christians,  for  the  reunion  which  bound  them  together 
heart  to  heart,  that  it  had  taken  place  before  he  died. 

Let  this  be  a  union  that  we  shall  never,  never  break.  Let  us  never  sepa- 
rate because  we  think  we  differ  on  certain  questions  of  policy.  What  we 
want  is,  to  aid  one  another  a  great  deal.  I  have  thought  that  some  of  us 
might  do  much  in  the  way  of  pecuniary  effort.  Our  fathers  will  have  much 
to  do  in  urging  us  to  duty.  Let  all  the  past  be  forgotten,  and  let  us  go  for- 
ward.     [Applause.] 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Dodge's  address  there  was  a  loud 
call  for  Mr.  Geoege  H.  Stuaet,  who  was  present  on 
the  platform,  and  who  was  known  to  feel  a  hearty 
interest  in  the  event.     He  said : 

As  an  outsider  standing  on  a  platform  of  Presbyterianism  perhaps  a  little 
more  rigid  than  the  rest  of  you,  late  New  School  and  Old  School  brethren,  I 
have  looked  with  interest  second  to  no  man  upon  the  movement  inaugurated 
in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  during  the  visit  of  Dr.  McCosh  to  this  country  in  the 
year  1866.  I  was  then  in  Ireland,  and  when  looking  upon  the  hills  of  my  na- 
tive land  my  heart  went  vip  to  God  in  a  song  of  thankfulness  for  that  com- 
munion season  that  the  two  Assemblies  had  enjoyed  together  in  the  city  of  St. 
37 


578  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Jjouis.  My  heart  went  up  still  more  when  I  heard  you  had  so  fai  looked  at 
each  other  as  to  appoint  committees  on  Reunion.  When  I  heard  of  difl5cul- 
ties  arising  in  the  progress  of  the  movement,  my  heart  was  sad  indeed.  I 
have  prayed  for  this  union ;  and  I  have  labored  for  it ;  simply  because  I  be 
lieved  that  it  would  bring  glory  to  my  blessed  Lord  and  Master,  Jesus  Christ, 
whose  I  trust  I  am  and  whom  I  endeavor  to  serve.  I  have  labored  and 
prayed  for  it,  because  I  beUeved  it  would  tend  to  the  advancement  of  the 
kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ,  not  only  in  the  United  States  of  America,  but  in  dis- 
tant heathen  lands.  I  have  labored  for  it,  and  I  have  prayed  for  it,  because 
I  believed  it  would  allow  ministers  from  towns  in.  which  several  are  now 
/aboring  (while  one  would  be  sufficient),  to  go  to  more  destitute  fields  at 
home  and  abroad.  I  have  labored  and  prayed  for  it,  because  it  would  bring 
brethren  together,  now  unhappily  divided,  to  see  eye  to  eye,  and  send  minis- 
ters from  these  little  charges,  with  the  prayers  of  this  united  Church,  to  go 
to  Africa,  and  China,  and  India,  and  the  Islands  of  the  Sea,  that  the  nations 
that  have  so  long  bowed  down  to  idols  might  learn  of  Jesus  and  Him  cruci- 
fied. Oh,  brethren  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States  of 
America !  think  of  it,  that  since  this  hour  yesterday  —  since  these  twenty-four 
hours  have  passed  away  —  eighty -six  tJioicsand  four  hundred  immortal  souls 
have  gone  to  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ,  and  we  ought  to  ask  ourselves  the 
question  which  Baxter  asked  when  he  said,  "I  never  hear  the  fimeral  bell 
toll  without  asking  myself  the  question,  what  have  I  done  to  point  that  de 
parted  soul  to  the  Lamb  of  God  that  died  to  save  a  perishing  world?" 
Brethren,  buckle  on  your  armor  for  the  great  conflict ;  buckle  it  on  for  giving 
the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God  to  the  millions  of  the  earth  who  are 
perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge. 

May  God  bless  this  great  Presbyterian  Church,  and  may  God  grant  that  the 
day  may  soon  come  when  one  United  Church  shall  embrace  all  in  this  land 
v^o  bear  the  Presbyterian  name. 

When  Mr.  Stuart  took  Ms  seat,  the  Moderator 
called  on  Mr.  Egbert  Carter,  Euling  Elder  of  New 
York,  to  offer  prayer.  This  he  did  with  great  unction, 
and  in  hearty  sympathy  with  the  occasion  —  the  great 
assembly  melted  together  at  the  throne  of  grace. 

The  Apostolic  benediction  was  then  pronounced  by 
the  Moderator,  the  Rev.  M.  W.  Jacobus,  D.D.,  and  the 
immense  audience  which  had  been  held  together  three 
hours,  great  numbers  of  them  patiently  standing,  and 
signifying    theii*  unflagging    interest    by    breathless 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  579 

attention,  dispersed,  but  never  to  forget  tlie  day  of 
TiiE  Peesbtterian  REmaoN. 

These  scenes  of  Christian  fellowship  and  fraternity, 
so  rare  and  memorable,  were  crowned  with  the  sacra 
ment  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  the  afternoon  of  this 
jubilee  day,  at  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  The 
Moderators  presided  jointly,  and  over  a  thousand  com- 
municants received  the  holy  ordinance.  The  Church 
was  crowded  in  auditorium  and  galleries,  and  many 
were  standing  in  the  aisles.  Addi^esses  were  made  by 
Rev.  Drs.  J.  F.  Stearns  and  R.  K.  Rodgers.  It  was 
the  first  reunited  communion.  The  great  and  joyous 
event  of  the  week,  with  all  the  pleasing  trans- 
port of  the  morning  service,  fresh  in  mind,  made  this  a 
feast  of  tabernacles  —  a  closing  festival  of  the  year. 
Such  a  day  is  one  in  a  lifetime.  Men  confessed  them- 
selves converted  to  the  movement  by  the  morning  cele- 
bration. 

A  well-known  lawyer  of  the  city,  who  had,  a  few 
months  before,  asked  the  privilege  of  one  of  the  Pres- 
byteries to  argue  against  the  Reunion,  said  to  the  ^vi'iter 
as  he  entered  the  Church  at  the  sacramental  service, 
"  You  may  count  me  a  convert  after  the  meeting  this 
morning." 

And  the  Holy  Supper  set  its  seal  at  once  upon  the 
covenant  of  Divine  love,  and  upon  this  answering  cove- 
nant of  Christian  love  and  union.  There  were  such 
meltings  and  flomngs  of  heart  there,  at  the  Table  of  the 
Lord,  as  made  the  place  to  be  the  Gate  of  Heaven.  And 
altogether,  the  impressions  of  the  brief,  but  blessed  sit- 
ting of  the  two  Assemblies,  with  the  grand  climax  of 
the  jubilee  and  the  Supper,  are  such  impressions  as  are 


580  PRESBYTERIAN-    CHURCH. 

rarely,  if  ever,  equalled,  and  cannot  be  excelled  on 
earth. 

Remembering,  too,  tliat  this  was  in  Pittsburg,  which 
had  ^vitnessed  such  scenes  of  conflict  in  the  days  of  bit- 
ter controversy,  it  was  all  the  more  notable  and  joyous. 
The  healing  was  to  be  measured  by  the  depth  of  the 
wound,  —  the  joy  of  1870  by  the  sorrow  of  1837.  It 
was  no  such  absui'dity  as  an  empuical  pronouncing  that 
there  never  had  been  any  wound,  nor  any  departure. 
But  it  iv'as  a  pronouncement  of  a  healthy  knitting  to- 
gether, and  of  a  sound  recovery. 

Christianity  has  her  most  august  triumph  in  Christian 
conciliation,  on  the  platform  of  Christian  truth,  and  for 
united  Christian  service.  "  Grace  and  truth  came  by 
Jesus  Christ."  There  may  be  mistakes  and  shortcomings 
in  all  these  transactions,  but  harmony,  and  not  strife,  con- 
cord, and  not  discord,  union,  and  not  separation,  are  in 
the  Divine  programme  for  the  Ghurcli's future.  And  if 
the  world  inquires  of  the  watchman,  "What  of  the 
night  ?  "  we  will  answer,  "  The  moriqn-g  cojieth  and 
also  the  nigJif''  If  ye  will  inquire^  inquire  ye! 
Return  !    Come  ! 

The  Commissioners,  in  large  companies,  took  the  even- 
ing trains  of  Friday  for  their  homes.  But  there  was 
3^et  another  service  for  those  who  remained.  It  was  a 
public  meeting  in  the  interest  of  Foreign  Missions.  It 
was  held  in  the  Thu-d  Church,     The  Assemblasre  was 

o 

very  crowded,  and  interested.  There  seemed  a  special 
fitness  in  the  arrangement  by  which  the  Jubilee  was 
ushered  in  by  a  convocation  for  Home  Missions^  and 
followed  up  by  a  stirring  convention  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sions^ as  the  two  grand  departments  of  Church  enter 


THE    ASSEMBLIES    OF    1869.  581 

prise,  whicli  this  united  host  has  sworn  together  to  push 
forward  to  the  noblest  results,  with  God's  blessing, 
ybr  tlie  evangelizing  of  the  world. 

It  was  necessary,  for  legal  pmposes,  that  the  next  As 
sembly  should  meet  in  Pennsylvania.  And  the  city  of 
Brotherly  Love,  the  traditional  seat  of  Presbyterianism 
"n  the  land,  had  its  prior  claim.  And  so  also  it  was  or- 
dered, in  God's  Providence,  that  the  first  meeting  in 
General  Assembly  of  the  Reunited  Church  should  be  in 
the  same  house  where  the  disruption  first  became  a  pro- 
nounced and  public  fact,  by  the  meeting  there  of  a  sepa- 
rate Assembly  —  that  the  coming  together  in  peace  of 
the  two  Assemblies  should  take  place  where  the  pro- 
testing Assembly  met  a  generation  ago  —  nay,  more,  that 
it  should  be  in  the  same  First  Church,  on  Washington 
Square,  where  Albert  Barnes  had  so  long  labored  before 
and  since  the  disruption  with  which  his  name  was  so 
prominently  connected. 

So  the  ends  of  history  meet,  and  make  God's  cii'cles, 
every  way  fitting  and  complete  for  the  admiration  of 
the  world,  and  for  an  exhibition  to  the  univei'se  of  the 
wisdom  of  God.  Aud  this  Reunion  in  Philadelphia 
would  be  all  the  more  remarkable  in  view  of  the  fact,' 
that  when  the  two  Assemblies  last  met,  in  that  city,  in 
1846,  an  overture  from  the  New  School  for  a  joint  com- 
munion was  rejected  —  formally  for  lack  of  precedent, 
but  really  for  lack  of  the  conditions  precedent^  the 
mutual  confidence  and  love ;  which  conditions  were  now 
happily  fulfilled.  If  any  ask,  like  Nicodemus,  "  How 
can  these  things  be  ?  "  the  only  answer  is  figured  forth 
by  the  Master,  in  tlie  wind  that  hloweth  luliere  it  listethy 
and  makes  itself  known  by  its  effects,  as  an  emblem  of 
the  renewing,  re\nving  spirit  of  God.     Latts  Dfo  ! 


582  PRESBYTERIAN    CKURCn. 


ADDITIONAL   IMPRESSIONS. 

[The  "  Certificate  of  Reunion "  was  drawn  up  by 
Henry  Day,  Esq.,  of  New  York.  It  is  given  in  the 
handwriting  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  McGill,  Stated  Clerk  of 
the  Old  School  General  Assembly.  The  signatures  are 
those  of  the  officers  of  the  two  Assemblies  of  1869.] 

The  reunion  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Church  so  far 
transcended  every  other  subject  before  the  Assemblies 
of  May  and  November,  1869,  and  the  two  bodies  were 
so  homogeneous,  that  an  account  of  either  is  in  all  essen- 
tial respects  an  account  of  the  other.  It  was  presumed 
that  the  narrative  of  Dr.  Jacobus  might  leave  something 
to  be  supplied  by  one  who  was  present  in  the  New 
School  Assembly  ;  but  it  is  so  comprehensive  that  any 
addition  to  it  is  almost  superfluous. 

God  is  in  history,  and  conspicuously  does  he  appear 
in  the  event  now  so  happily  consummated.  The  train 
for  it  was  laid  so  independently  of  human  agency,  prog- 
ress towards  it  was  made  to  such  an  extent  without 
visible  means,  formidable  difficulties  so  fi-equently  re- 
tired as  it  was  approached,  and  it  was  finally  reached 
with  such  unanimity  and  cordiality  in  so  brief  a  space, 
after  bitter  alienation,  that  it  cannot  be  explained  ex- 
cept on  the  supposition  of  a  special  Divine  interposition. 
"  Not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  thy  name 
give  glory."  And  giving  God  the  glory,  we  take  en- 
couragement for  the  futui'e.     A  guaranty  of  good   to 


-^^^> 


(iCf-^'Z^-c^e^g^^^^^c-^ 


«-<J^^^i^-«^^?^;^^>^J^^/  Cc^r>^^^  ^:€^-;^&<^^/^'i 


y 


^^^ 


/SiJ-t^  CdJ-t^lt^e' 


'jr^:^^:-^^^,:^ 


t^'  ^'6^crU 


ADDITIONAL   IMPEESSIONS.  585 

come  13  furnislied.  Wliat  lias  been  Divinely  wrought 
must  be  Divinely  prospered. 

The  disinterestedness  mth  whicli  the  Reunion  was 
sought  should  also  be  observed.  Neither  body  had 
selfish  objects  in  view.  Neither  desired  to  ease  or  mag- 
nify itself.  Each  was  thrifty  and  fruitful,  with  no  need 
of  change  to  escape  barrenness  and  decline,  and  each 
could  say  from  the  depths  of  its  consciousness  that  it 
had  no  aspirations  for  aggrandizement.  We  yielded  to 
our  convictions  of  what  was  due  to  the  cause  of  God 
and  accordant  with  his  will.  We  longed  indeed  for 
the  association  to  which  our  affinities  adapted  us,  but 
while  di"awn  together  by  sympathy,  we  came  together 
at  a  divine  call,  for  the  larger  work  om*  combination 
enables  us  to  perform.  We  accept  the  Reunion  as  a  re- 
sponsibility even  more  than  as  a  pleasure.  Enlarging 
our  opportunities,  we  look  upon  it  as  enhancing  our  ob- 
ligations. We  expect  and  mean  to  do  more  than  ever 
before. 

While  fears  for  orthodoxy  and  apprehensions  of  com- 
motion from  the  mingling  of  discordant  elements  and 
smwiving  antipathies,  disinclined  many  of  the  Old  School 
brethren  to  the  Reunion,  it  was  repugnant  to  a  few  of 
the  New  School  brethren  as  likely  to  restrain  the  Chris 
tian  liberty  of  thought  and  to  destroy  or  impair  the  pleas 
antness  of  their  ecclesiastical  associations,  and  as  calling 
off  their  Chm-ch  from  a  course  of  bold  and  successful 
enterprise  which  it  was  pursuing.  But  a  better  ac- 
quaintance with  each  other  allayed  suspicions  and  anxi- 
ety on  both  sides.  Truth  was  found  to  be  as  precious 
and  safe  with  one  as  with  the  other,  and  toleration  as 
reasonable,  and  an  association  of  the  two  proved  a  fel- 


586  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

lowship  of  congenial  spirits.  It  was  remarkable  liow  a 
membership  of  joint  committees  and  of  Assemblies  con- 
vened in  the  same  place  removed  distrust  and  substi- 
tuted confidence  and  afEection.  The  elders  and  private 
members  of  the  church  were  soonest  ready  for  the  Re- 
union, and  most  unanimous  and  earnest  for  it,  because, 
in  fact,  they  fi'equently  met  in  business  and  social  inter- 
course and  knew  each  other.  Some  of  the  aversion  to 
the  Keunion  remained  among  the  Old  School  brethren 
to  the  last,  though  generally  these  were  but  little  in 
conference  with  New  School  brethren,  and,  therefore, 
could  not  understand  them.  Oj^position  to  it  among 
the  New  School  brethren  was  entu*ely  withdi-awn,  not 
altogether  because  they  were  satisfied  with  it,  but  be- 
cause it  was  a  foregone  conclusion,  and  unanimity  was 
the  habit  of  theii'  body,  and  they  preferred  concession 
to  dissent. 

Although  the  New  School  branch  of  the  chui'ch  had 
been  generally  well  disposed  towards  the  Eeunion  from 
the  first,  a  change  was  distinctly  manifest,  as  Dr.  Ja- 
cobus has  remarked,  at  the  opening  of  the  Assemblies 
in  New  York.  While  no  zeal  for  it  had  mdely  pre- 
vailed, there  was  an  assent  to  it  as  wisest  and  best  in 
the  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  an  acquiescence  in 
the  successive  projects  proposed  for  it,  though  these 
were  by  no  means  fully  approved  and  relished.  The 
failure  of  these  projects  in  the  other  branch  produced  a 
sense  of  wounded  pride  and  dignity.  If  not  repelled 
or  trifled  ^vith,  the  New  School  brethren  felt  that  they 
had  not  been  met  with  the  generosity  they  had  shown, 
and  just  self-respect  constrained  them  to  put  on  reserve. 
All  this  passed  away  on  the  correction  of  the  misappre* 


ADDITIONAL    IMPRESSIONS.  587 

bftnsioa  in  wliicli  it  originated.  Tlie  earliest  proceedings 
of  tiie  Old  School  Assembly  ex23ressed  such  heartiness 
for  the  Reunion  that  the  delay  of  it  in  its  branch  of  the 
chui'ch  was  demonstrated  to  have  been  induced  by  un- 
propitious  circumstances  and  not  by  blameworthy  cod 
siderations.  The  tide  of  feeling  in  both  bodies  was  thus 
swollen,  and  defied  all  impediments  to  its  flow.  The  acts 
and  incidents  of  the  session  may  be  recorded,  but  the 
spirit  of  the  occasion  can  never  be  described.  There 
was  the  inflamed  ardor  for  the  Reunion,  and  then  the 
solicitude  about  the  speedy  practicability  of  it,  when 
the  terms  of  it  came  again  to  be  considered  and  stated, 
the  alternation  of  hope  and  fear,  the  elation  and  de- 
pression, until  the  intelligence  that  the  Joint  Commit- 
tee to  whom  the  matter  was  referred  had  agreed  on  a 
"  basis."  The  presentation  of  the  Report  and  its  adop- 
tion by  the  Assemblies  turned  excitement  into  ecstacy. 
None  but  they  who  felt  it  can  know  the  experience  of 
those  dg^ys,  —  the  pressure  of  soul,  —  the  suspense,  ■ — 
the  relief  when  it  was  known  that  our  prudent  men, 
under  the  leading  of  the  Spirit,  had  devised  a  plan 
which  they  believed  met  the  exigency,  —  the  eagerness 
with  which  its  public  reading  was  listened  to,  —  the  se- 
riousness with  which  it  was  discussed,  —  the  solemnity 
with  which  it  was  voted  upon,  and  the  gratification 
with  which  it  was  approved.  The  Report  was  care- 
fully considered  in  both  Assemblies,  but  it  cannot  be 
said  to  have  been  debated  in  the  New  School  Assem- 
bly. No  opposition  was  made  to  it  there.  There  was 
only  a  difference  in  the  assent  given  to  it,  and  they  who 
most  qualified  this  were  only  precautionary.  They  en- 
tered a  caveat  against  a  narrow  and  illiberal  spiiit  and 


588  PEESBYTEEIAN  cnuKcn. 

policy  in  the  reunited  churcli,  and  against  a  censorship 
of  "  all  reasonable  liberty  in  the  statement  of  views  and 
the  interpretation  of  the  standards  not  impairing  the 
integrity  of  the  Calvinistic  system,"  and  esj^ecially 
against  a  disturbance  of  the  ecclesiastical  status  of  any 
particular  individual  who  had  retained  a  good  standing 
in  the  Ne\7  School  branch  of  the  chui'ch,  notwithstand- 
ing his  peculiarities  in  minor  articles  of  faith,  and  his 
philosophy  of  doctrines  and  facts.  The  sensitiveness 
on  this  subject  grew  out  of  the  intern j)erateness  of 
speech,  amounting  to  threats,  which  had  been  indulged 
in  here  and  there  by  Old  School  brethren  disaffected 
towards  the  Reunion,  and  not  fi'om  zeal  for  the  views 
in  question,  or  even  concui-rence  in  them,  and  still  less 
because  they  were  presumed  to  prevail  in  the  New 
School  body.  The  speeches  were  simply  a  notice  in  ad- 
vance that  the  tolerance  of  immaterial  diversities  was 
expected  and  would  be  claimed,  and  that  acceptable 
members  of  either  branch  of  the  church  must  hold 
an  unquestioned  place  in  the  two  combined. 

All  who  desired  to  speak  having  been  satisfied,  the 
voting  in  the  New  School  Assembly  was  preceded  by 
silent  prayer,  and  these  were  deeply  impressive  mo 
ments.  The  thronged  house  was  motionless  and  still, 
as  if  transfixed  and  hushed  in  looking  to  God.  The 
question  was  then  taken  by  rising,  and  every  Commis- 
sioner stood  ujy  in  the  affirmative  !  Nothing  like  tu- 
multuousness  succeeded,  nor  was  there  the  faintest  ap- 
plause, and  yet  the  joy  was  raj^turous.  llianksgiving 
and  praise  were  the  universal  impulse,  and  the  venera- 
ble Dr.  Thomas  H.  Skinner  most  fittingly  led  in  this 
act.     A  hymn  was  then  sung.     With  thi-illing  force  the 


ADDITIOIS-AL    IMPEESSIONS.  589 

grand  old  words  of  that  inspiiing  song  rolled  upward 
from  that  vast  Assembly  of  strong,  earnest,  resolute 
Christian  men,  standing  there  in  a  solid  body  — 

"  Let  Zion  and  her  sons  rejoice, 
Behold  the  promised  hour ; 
Her  God  hath  heard  her  mourning  voice, 
And  comes  to  exalt  his  power. 

"  The  Lord  will  raise  Jerusalem, 
And  stand  in  glory  there  ; 
Nations  rejoice  before  his  name, 
And  kings  attend  with  fear. 

"  This  shall  be  known  when  we  are  dead, 
And  left  on  long  record, 
That  nations  yet  unborn  may  read, 
And  trust  and  praise  the  Lord. " 

The  Assemblies  met  at  Pittsburg  with  a  very  dif- 
ferent spirit  from  what  prevailed  at  their  opening  in 
New  York.  All  was  exhilaration  now.  The  Presbyte- 
ries, it  was  known,  had  affii*med  the  overture  submitted 
to  them,  and  after  the  reception  and  announcement  of 
their  answers,  the  proclamation  of  the  Reunion  was  to 
be  made ;  and  as  the  Commissioners  exchanged  greetings 
their  faces  beamed  with  smiles,  and  they  grasped  hands 
closely,  and  shook  them  vigorously,  and  their  voices  rang 
out  cheerily.  On  calling  the  roll  in  the  New  School 
Assembly,  the  gayety  of  the  hour  was  subdued  by  the 
disappearance  from  it,  through  death,  of  the  names  of 
one  minister  and  two  elders :  the  Rev.  Frederick  R. 
Gallaher,  D.D.,  of  the  Presbyteiy  of  Coldwater,  H.  G. 
Torbett,  M.D.,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Utica,  and  Loring 
Danforth,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Buffalo.  Rej^orts  of 
Committees  on  Amusements,  on  the  Bible  in  Schools, 
and   on    State  Appropriations  to   Sectarian  Schools, 


590  PEESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

on  the  Eeport  of  the  Delegate  the  precediug  year 
to  the  General  Assemblies  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Ireland  and  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland, 
and  on  the  relations  of  the  General  Assembly  to  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions, 
were  adopted  by  the  New  School  body,  and  few  other 
matters  were  disposed  of  there.  The  answers  of  the 
Presbyteries  to  the  overture  sent  down  to  them  were 
examined  and  declared  and  reported  to  the  other  Assem- 
bly, and  its  report  of  the  answers  of  its  Presbyte- 
ries was  received,  and  thereupon  the  Assembly  was 
dissolved. 

A  sentiment  of  anxiety  and  sadness  predominated  in 
the  act  which  finally  merged  the  two  bodies  into  each 
other.  The  attention  was  naturally  turned  to  j^revious 
relationships  that  had  been  greatly  enjoyed,  and  which, 
if  not  broken  up,  were  to  be  henceforward  modified. 
If  old  associates  were  to  be  retained,  many  new  ones 
were  to  be  introduced  into  the  company,  and  the  char- 
acter of  the  intercourse  held  might  be  changed.  There 
was  the  risk,  too,  attending  all  decisive  deeds,  however 
commended  and  approved.  The  die  was  cast,  and  while 
great  good  was  confidently  expected,  evil  might  ensue. 
I  am  best  informed,  of  course,  about  the  New  School 
brethren.  They  could  hardly  be  more  consentaneous 
and  affectionate.  Leaderships,  parties,  cliques,  animos- 
ities, strifes,  rivalries,  jealousies,  envies,  were  unknown 
among  them.  There  were  fi-equent  differences  of 
opinion  and  earnest  discussions,  but  no  disputes  and 
di\dding  lines.  Their  method  of  conducting  ecclesiasti- 
cal proceedings  was  exceedingly  fraternal.  They  were 
family  conferences  rather  than  legislative  and  judicial 


ADDITION- AL    IMPEESSIONS.  591 

assemblies.  Superior  wisdom  exerted  superioi'  influence, 
but  no  lording  it  appeared,  and  voting  was  a  means  of 
ascertaining  the  judgment  and  wish  of  a  body,  and  not 
the  triumph  or  defeat  of  contestants.  The  least  pos- 
sible appearance  of  authority  was  exhibited.  An  at- 
tachment thus  so  bound  them  together,  and  a  sympathy 
thus  so  identified  them,  that  it  is  not  strange  that  they 
took  the  step  with  moistened  eye  and  treml)ling  limb, 
which,  though  it  did  not  part  them,  added  associates  to 
them  that  might  jeopard  their  fellowship.  This  fore- 
boding was  quickly  composed.  In  private  conferences, 
in  committees,  in  ecclesiastical  meetings,  there  has  been 
no  consciousness  on  either  side  of  any  change  in  the 
character  of  former  association  and  intercourse.  Every 
individual  has  felt  perfectly  at  home  in  his  new  rela- 
tionships. None,  indeed,  have  seemed  aware  that  they 
were  new  in  the  least.  If  the  numbers  connected  with 
them  have  increased,  it  is  not  perceived  from  an  abate- 
ment of  familiarity  and  fi^eedom. 

The  Jubilee  Convention  that  followed  the  dissolution 
of  the  Assemblies  gave  the  key-note  to  the  reunited 
church,  and  started  it  on  its  career.  Jubilation  and 
congratulation  and  thanksgiving  were  irrepressible,  Init 
the  sense  of  duty  and  its  pressure  superabounded. 
Every  speaker  was  burthened  by  the  work  to  be  per 
formed,  and  intent  on  securing  faithfulness  and  effi- 
ciency, and  the  immense  audience,  packed  into  a  single 
body,  lifted  its  shoulders  and  stretched  out  its  arms  to 
undertake  it.  "  We  must  dare  and  do,"  the  one  soul 
throbbed.  A  million  of  dollars  as  a  thank-oif  ering  will 
not  suffice.  It  shall  be  five  millions,  at  least.  En- 
thusiasm proposed  the  sum  to  be  presented,  but  the 


592 


PRESBYTERIAN   CnUKCH. 


resolute  purpose  to  raise  it  seconded  the  motion  and 
adopted  it.  Thus  setting  out  with  liberality,  and  com- 
mitted to  enterprise,  the  reunited  church  must  be  des- 
tined to  large  prosperity  and  rapid  and  extensive  prog- 


ress. 


THIRD  cnuncH,  piTTSBiman,  pa. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE    RECONSTRUCTION". 


Willis  Lord,  D.D. 


Robert  Carter. 


Upon  the  consolidated  Cliurcli  is  laid  tlie  task  of 
Reconstruction.  This  includes  a  new  arrangement  of 
Synods  and  Presbyteries,  constitutional  and  other 
changes  made  necessary  by  combining  into  one  two 
previously  distinct  branches,  and  a  fresh  adjustment  of 
the  agencies  hitherto  employed  by  them  both  for  mis- 
sionary and  other  Christian  efforts.  Its  full  accom- 
plishment will,  moreover,  add  to  the  power  of  the 
Church  as  an  instrument  for  doing  good,  it  will  prune 
her  administration  from  everything  not  approved  by 
experience,  it  will  enable  her  to  adapt  her  plans  to  the 
demands  of  the  present  and  the  future,  and  more  fully 
equip  her  for  the  mighty  work  to  which  her  God  now 
calls   her.     Such  a   task   may   well   employ    the   best 


594  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

tliouglits  and  most  earnest  prayers  of  all  lier  officers 
and  Diembers,  for  the  Di\Hne  voice  once  more  is  saying 
to  her,  "Thou  shalt  raise  up  the  foundations  of  many 
generations." 

If  this  view  of  the  magnitude  and  scope  of  the  work 
of  Eeconstruction  be  correct,  the  General  Assembly  of 
1870  performed  its  full  share  of  it,  by  defining  its  out- 
lines, and  commencing  to  fill  them  up. 

The  object  of  the  present  chapter  is  to  review  what 
this  Assembly  thus  transacted,  and  to  indicate  what 
yet  remains  for  its  successors  to  accomplish. 

Philadelj^hia  was  in  every  way  most  appropriately  a 
place  of  meeting  for  the  first  Assembly  of  the  Keunited 
Presbyterian  Church.  It  has  been  claimed  that  the 
first  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  'country  was  here 
organized.  The  mother  Presbytery  was  formed  in  the 
same  city  in  1705.  Forty-four  General  Assemblies  had 
here  been  welcomed  pre^aous  to  the  di^asion,  and  after 
it,  nine  of  the  Old  School  and  seven  of  the  New  School 
Assemblies  transacted  their  business  in  Philadelphia. 
Its  very  name  suggests  harmony,  and  during  the  ses- 
sions of  1870,  its  citizens,  with  liberal  kindness  and 
unsurpassed  hospitality,  accommodated  the  nearly  six 
hundred  delegates  that  composed  the  Asseinbly,  render- 
ing their  sojourn  most  agreeable,  and  filling  up  the 
intervals  of  theii*  business  with  pleasant,  social  enter- 
tainments. 

The  General  Assembly  convened,  as  was  most  fitting, 
with  that  congregation  from  which  all  others  in  the 
city  date  their  origin,  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
on  Washington  Square  (the  Eev.  Albert  Barnes  and 


THE    REC0NSTRUCTI01S-.  595 

Herrick  Jolinson,  D.D.,  pastors),  on  Thui-sday,  May 
19,  1870,  at  11  A.M. 

To  prepare  for  tliis  meeting,  arrangements  of  tlie 
most  ample  character  had  been  made  by  a  joint-com- 
mittee, consisting  of  the  Rev.  Herrick  Johnson,  D.D., 
chairman,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Reed,  D.D.,  the  Rev.  Z. 
M.  Humphrey,  D.D.,  and  Messrs.  William  G.  Crowell, 
Morris  Patterson,  and  J.  A.  Gardner.  These  gentlemen 
were  indefatigable  in  their  endeavor  to  secure  the  com- 
fort of  their  numerous  guests.  Their  forethought  had 
provided  ample  accommodations  for  all  the  wants  of 
the  large  deliberative  body  meeting  mth  them,  and 
fi'om  the  commencement  to  the  close  of  its  protracted 
sessions,  the  cheerfulness  and  constant  com-tesy  with 
which  their  arduous  labors  were  rendered  elicited  the 
united  commendation  of  all  for  whom  they  toiled. 
The  thorough  success  of  their  efforts  deserves  special 
mention. 

As  the  opening  exercises  commenced  in  the  spacious 
edifice  of  the  First  Church,  the  sight  was  pleasant  and 
impressive.  The  ground  floor  of  the  house  was  nearly 
filled  by  the  Commissioners  and  the  Delegates  from 
various  kindi^ed  bodies.  Upon  the  platform  were 
seated  representatives  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland, 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Great  Britain,  and 
of  the  Irish  Presbyterian  Church;  also  the  Rev.  Tliomas 
DeWitt,  D.D.,  one  of  the  oldest  ministers  of  the  Re- 
formed (late  Reformed  Dutch)  Church.  A  floral  com- 
mittee had  tastefully  decorated  the  pulpit,  the  desks  of 
the  clerks,  and  the  galleries  with  choice  evergreens  and 
flowers.  Over  the  pulpit  they  had  suspended  the 
words :  "  Now  aee  they  many  members,  yet  but  one 


596  PEESBYTERIAN    CnURCH. 

BODY ; "  while  at  the  rear  end  of  the  Church  were  seen 
the  date  of  the  division  mth  that  of  the  Reunion :  1837, 
1870.  An  audience,  that  crowded  every  portion  of  the 
building  not  reserved  for  the  Assembly,  gladly  united 
with  its  members  in  the  services  of  praise  and  prayer 
which  preceded  the  sermon  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fowler,  the 
last  Moderator  of  the  New  School  branch.  This  dis- 
course at  once  entered  upon  the  subject  of  the  Recon- 
struction of  the  Reunited  Church,  and  suggested  its 
outlines. 

Dr.  Fowler's  text  was  Ephesians  iv.  4:  "There  is 
one  Body,  and  one  Spirit,  even  as  ye  are  called  in  one 
hope  of  your  calling."  The  preparation  of  this  dis- 
course was  somewhat  advanced  before  it  was  noticed 
that  the  Rev.  F.  Allison,  D.D.,  had  chosen  the  same 
text  when  preaching  in  Philadelphia,  May  24,  1758, 
before  "  The  Reverend  Synod  of  Philadelphia  and  the 
Reverend  Commission  of  the  Synod  of  New  York,"  on 
occasion  of  the  former  Reunion  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Instead,  however,  of  changing  the  text,  as  was 
his  impulse  at  first.  Dr.  Fowler  retained  it,  as  sanctioned 
by  such  an  authority  for  it,  rather  than  interdicted  by 
such  a  use  of  it. 

The  portion  of  the  sermon  which  relates  to  Recon- 
struction is  as  follows :  — 

First,  the  Reunion  lays  upon  us  a  worTc  of  reconstruction.  I  will  not  in- 
trade  on  the  part  assigned  to  committees  appointed  to  rej^ort  to  this  Gen- 
eral Assembly.  They  are  charged  chiefly  with  the  necessary  changes  in 
the  boundaries  of  our  judicatories,  and  with  the  combination  of  our  two 
sets  of  evangelistic  agencies.  The  further  question  arises,  Is  any  modifica- 
tion of  our  ecclesiastical  administration  desirahle  and  fe/isible  ? 

Everything  distinctive  in  our  polity  is  beyond  inquiry,  of  course.  A3 
none  of  us  entertain  a  thought,  so  none  of  us  could  present  a  proposition 


)J^ 


mil 


'  if 


THE   EECONSTRUCTION.  599 

looking  the  most  remotely  to  the  least  alteration  of  our  Presbyterianism. 
We  fully  approve  it.  We  ardently  love  it.  Study  and  observation  and 
experiment  commend  it  to  our  judgments  and  hearts.  But  is  our  method 
of  operation  incapable  of  improvement  ?  Has  trial  developed  no  faults  or 
defects  in  the  organs  we  furnish  for  the  functions  of  our  Church  ? 

For  example,  how  is  it  in  reference  to  supervision  ?  Our  organization 
provides  for  it.  Indeed,  it  is  characterized  by  it.  We  define  Presbyter- 
ianism as  "  a  series  of  courts  of  review  and  control."  But  om's  is  a  super- 
vision by  bodies.  Presbyteries,  Synods,  and  the  General  Assembly  exer- 
cise it.  Is  there  not  a  measure,  and  is  there  not  a  method  of  it,  that  could 
be  entrusted  to  individuals,  and  that  would  be  useful  to  the  Church? 
None  of  us  could  be  reconciled  to  an  Eijiscopacy  —  technically  so  called. 
The  parity  of  the  ministry  is  inviolable  among  us,  and  imperiousness  and 
inquisitiveness  are  intolerable  by  us.  We  must  be  fi'eemen  and  peers. 
And  we  would  not  sacrifice  self -training,  self -incitement,  self-restraint,  for 
the  quickening  and  check  of  a  bishop's  crook  and  eye.  We  must  be,  we 
will  be,  laws  to  ourselves.  But  carmot  individualism  be  reconciled  with  a 
supervision  by  individuals,  and  would  not  our  Presbyterianism  be  heljied 
by  it?  Prelacy  and  IMethodism  largely  owe  then-  efficiency  to  it,  and 
guarded  against  excess  and  abuse,  and  an  appendix  to  suijervision  by  judi- 
catories, might  it  not  add  to  our  force  ? 

This  would  be  no  novelty  in  Presbyterianism,  as  it  would  be  no  intru- 
sion upon  it.  Jolm  Knox  established  it  in  the  Scotch  Kirk,  which  he  divided 
into  ten  dioceses,  for  each  of  which  a  superintendent  was  appointed.  The 
first  Book  of  Discipline  directed  that  these  superintendents  should  have 
theu'  own  special  ku-ks,  besides  the  common  charge  of  others,  and  that 
they  should  not  "remain  in  their  own  kirks  above  three  or  four  months, 
but  should  pass  again  to  their  visitations."  Their  duty  was  described  as 
not  only  to  preach  where  they  went,  but  to  ' '  examine  the  doctrines,  life, ' 
diligence,  and  behavior  of  the  muiisters,  elders,  and  deacons;"  to  "con- 
sider the  order  of  the  kirk,  the  manners  of  the  people,  how  the  poor  are 
provided,  how  the  youth  are  instructed,  how  the  purity  and  discipline  of 
the  kirk  are  kept,  how  heinous  and  horrible  crimes  are  corrected,"  and  to 
"  administer  and  di-ess  things  out  of  order  with  their  counsel  the  best  way 
they  may." 

The  genius  of  Presbyterianism  presides  in  the  study.  Our  muiisters  are 
the  thinkers  and  scholars  of  their  profession,  and  particularly  set  a[);irt  for 
the  inculcation  of  principles  and  doctrines.  Diligently  do  they  prose- 
cute their  special  mission,  and  they  need  little  additional  incitement  and 
guidance  in  it.     We  feel  om-  shortcomings  and  deficiencies  more  in  out-of- 


600  PRESBYTERIAN    CnURCH. 

door  work,  and  who  of  us  but  often  need  responsible  counsel  and  help 
and  how  invaluable  they  would  be  to  the  juniors  among  us ! 

Our  churches  suffer  from  the  lack  of  oversight.  Pastors  tend  well  the 
folds  over  which  they  are  severally  set ;  but,  with  here  and  there  an  excep- 
tion, our  Presbyteries  and  Synods  very  imperfectly  watch  the  shepherdlesa 
flocks.  As  ecclesiastical  bodies  do  not  and  cannot  whisper  caution  and 
advice  and  encom-agement  and  stimulus  to  those  of  their  members  who  call 
for  the  delicate  administration  of  such  an  office,  so  they  are  too  cumber- 
some for  all  the  activities  of  a  missionary  field.  They  are  compelled  to 
undertake  them  by  the  exigencies  of  new  settlements,  and  are  occasionally 
aroused  to  them  in  established  communities,  but  their  efforts  are  generally 
transient  and  fitful.  And  the  result  is  disastrous.  Scores  and  hundreds 
of  chm-ches  die  of  neglect,  and  scores  and  hundi-eds  of  opportunities  for 
clim-ches  are  lost.  Episcopacy  has  an  advantage  here,  and  Jlethodist  Epis- 
copacy is  making  the  most  of  it.  It  takes  up  our  expiring  flocks  and  puts 
them  in  well-tended  folds. 

And  would  not  an  arrangement  for  a  kind  and  measure  of  supervision, 
by  individuals  as  well  as  by  bodies,  abate  an  evil,  of  which  both  our 
church  and  ministers  are  the  victims  ?  I  can  hardly  bring  myself  to  jjub- 
lish  the  fact,  for  it  seems  like  proclaiming  either  our  weakness  or  our 
shame,  and  yet  the  stress  of  the  case  compels  me  to  state,  that  while  our 
last  minutes  report  4,181  ministers,  and  4,330  churches,  more  than  1,000 
of  our  ministers  are  stated  supplies,  or  vpithout  liermauent  engagements ; 
and  nearly  800  are  wholly  unemployed,  and  less  than  1,500  are  pastoi-s; 
and  more  than  1,500  of  our  churches  are  served  by  stated  supplies,  and 
nearly  1,000  have  no  regular  supplies  of  any  kind.  Suppose  that  one- 
half  of  these  unemployed  ministers  are  aged  or  infirm,  or  otherwise  incom- 
petent for  pulpit  and  pastoral  labor,  we  then  have  400  ministers,  qualified  to 
preach  and  visit,  without  pulpits  and  parishes.  Most  of  thb  1,000  vacant 
churches  are  small  and  feeble,  but  the  greater  their  need  of  care,  and  vnth 
400  able-bodied  and  weU-traiued  ministers  disengaged  in  our  bounds,  they 
ought  to  be  served. 

The  impossibility  of  a  support  for  these  400  ministei-s  in  these  1,000 
churches  is  not  the  reason  of  their  being  unemployed,  for  long-continued 
experiment  by  a  sister  denomination  shows  that  it  can  be  furnished.  Wliat 
is  needed,  though  not  all  that  is  needed,  is  an  accepted  medium  of  com- 
munication I)etween  the  two,  and  also  some  degree  of  authority  to  bring 
tliem  to  terms.  Left,  as  each  church  so  much  is  left,  to  provide  for  itself, 
and  left,  as  each  minister  so  much  is  left,  to  settle  himself,  om*  Minutes 
will  continue  to  report  their  humiliating  tale.  And  is  it  not  distressing  to 
think  of  this  amount  of  cultivated  and  consecrated  power  lying  idle  in  the 


THE    EECONSTEUCTION.  601 

midst  of  th^s  abounding  waste,  and  must  there  not  be  sometliing  faulty  or 
wanting  in  the  administration  that  admits  of  it  ? 

All  modification  of  om-  methods  of  ecclesiastical  action  may  seem  too 
perilous  to  be  risked ;  but  more  is  to  be  feared  from  a  timid  conservatism 
than  from  a  bold  amendment.  None  of  us,  I  am  sure,  are  content  with 
our  present  degree  of  efficiency.  We  make  no  comparisons  with  other  de- 
nominations, but  we  are  dissatisfied  with  ourselves.  We  have  not  the 
life,  the  vigor,  the  enterprise  that  become  a  Christian  chm-ch  in  this  day 
and  in  this  land. 

According  to  the  plan  of  Reunion  adopted  by  the 
Assemblies  of  1869,  the  Moderators  of  the  two  Assem- 
blies of  1869  jointly  presided  until  the  new  Moderator 
was  chosen.  By  this  arrangement  the  Rev.  Philemon  H. 
Fowler,  D.D.,  Moderator  of  the  Assembly  that  met  in 
May,  1869,  in  the  Church  of  the  Covenant,  New  York, 
having  preached  the  sermon,  the  Rev.  Melancthon  W. 
Jacobus,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Moderator  of  the  Assembly  that 
met  in  May,  1869,  in  the  Brick  Church,  New  York, 
took  the  chair,  for  the  purpose  of  putting  the  votes  and 
deciding  questions  of  order. 

Prayer  having  been  offered  by  Dr.  Jacobus,  the  Rev. 
J.  Trumbull  Backus,  D.D.,  was  by  acclamation  elected 
Moderator.  Also  by  a  unanimous  vote,  the  following 
gentlemen  were  elected  clerks  : 

The  Rev.  Edwin  F.  Hatfield,  D.D.,  Stated  Clerk,  the 
Rev.  Cyi-us  Dickson,  D.D.,  Permanent  Clerk ;  and  the 
Rev.  Villeroy  D.  Reed,  D.D.,  Hon.  S.  F.  McCoy,  and 
Ezra  M.  Kingsley,  Esq.,  Temporary  Clerks. 

The  following  telegram  was  read,  and  received  with 
applause : 

Allegiieny  City,  Pa.,  ) 
May  19,  1870.  J 

To  the  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembhj  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  : 
The  Moderator  of  the  last  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 


602  PRESBYTEELiN    CIIUECII. 

immediately  preceding  the  separation,  sends  greeting  to  the  first  Reunited 
Assembly  of  the  same  through  their  Moderator,  prajdng  that  their  proceed- 
ings may  be  distinguished  by  the  wisdom  that  is  from  above,  and  cemented 
by  the  charity  which  is  the  bond  of  perf  ectness. 

David  Elliott. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Hatfield,  by  appointment  of  tlie  Assem- 
bly, prepared  a  reply,  using  for  the  j)urpose  the  words 
of  Psalm  xcii.,  verses  12-15:  "The  righteous  shall 
flourish  like  the  palm  tree :  he  shall  grow  like  a  cedar 
in  Lebanon.  Those  that  be  planted  in  the  house  of  the 
Lord  shall  flourish  in  the  coui'ts  of  om-  God.  They 
shall  still  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age  ;  they  shall  be  fat 
and  flourishing ;  to  shew  that  the  Lord  is  upright :  he 
is  my  rock,  and  there  is  no  unrighteousness  in  him." 

After  the  preliminary  organization,  in  which  was  thus 
exhibited  an  entii'e  unanimity,  the  Assembly  commenced 
its  appropriate  work.  A  Joint  Committee  on  Re- 
construction had  been  appointed  by  the  Assemblies  of 
1869.  This  Committee,  of  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mus- 
grave  was  Chaii'man,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Llatfield,  Secre- 
tary, reported  at  an  early  stage  of  the  proceedings.  The 
consideration  of  this  report,  that  inv'olved  the  boundar- 
ies of  the  S}aiods,  arrangements  for  the  formation  of  new 
Presbyteries,  and  important  constitutional  changes,  oc- 
cupied more  of  the  time  of  the  Assembly  than  any  other 
subject.  It  originally  proposed  the  establishment  of  all 
the  Presbyteries  duiing  the  sessions  of  the  Assembly 
of  1870,  a  plan  being  suggested  by  which  the  various 
representatives  of  the  Synods  in  the  house  should  meet 
and  nominate  1  >ounds  to  be  afterward  ratified  by  the 
whole  Assembly.  For  this,  the  method  finally  adopted 
was,  after    not  a  little    discussion,    substituted.     The 


THE    EECONSTEUCTION.  603 

specific  work  of  recoustructing  tlie  Presbyteries  Tvas 
remitted  to  the  Synods,  wlien  organized,  as  defined 
by  tlie  Assembly.  These  Synods  were  directed  to 
meet  for  the  purpose  of  thus  arranging  the  bounds 
of  the  new  Presbyteries  previous  to  July  15,  1870. 
In  several  other  particulars  the  very  able  report  of  the 
Joint  Committee  on  Reconstruction  was  changed  by 
amendments,  all  of  which  were  fully  discussed  and  quite 
unanimously  adopted. 

As  this  report  will  possess  a  historical  value,  it  seems 
proper  to  insert  it  here  in  its  amended  form : 

Your  Committee  have  held  tlii'ee  several  meetings  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia —  one  in  January,  another  in  March,  and  the  final  one  the  present 
month,  just  before  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly.  The  second,  and  most 
important  of  all  our  meetings,  had  the  presence  of  every  member.  We 
have  endeavored  diligently  and  faithfully  to  attend  to  the  business  of  Re- 
construction, which  had  been  intrusted  to  us. 

Our  duties,  as  described  in  the  concurrent  resolutions  of  the  two  As- 
semblies for  our  appointment,  were  —  "to  prepare  and  propose  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  the  United  Church  a  proper  adjustment  of  the  bounda- 
ries of  the  Presbyteries  and  Synods,  and  the  ratio  of  representation ;  and 
any  amendments  of  the  Constitution,  which  they  may  think  necessary  to 
secm'e  efficiency  and  harmony  in  the  administration  of  the  Church,  so 
greatly  increased  and  so  rapidly  extending."  Under  this  minute,  espe- 
cially the  latter  part,  many  supposed  our  powers  very  extensive,  and  our 
range  of  subjects  almost  unrestricted.  We  have  not  so  judged,  but  pre- 
ferred to  keep  closely  to  what  is  more  specially  mentioned  or  clearly  im- 
plied. 

Numerous  communications  on  these  matters  have  reached  us  ;  a  few  from 
ecclesiastical  bodies,  or  associations  of  ministers,  but  chiefly  from  indi- 
viduals ;  all  which  have  been  respectfully  and  patiently  considered,  though 
the  suggestions  contained  in  some  of  them  we  may  have  failed  to  adopt. 
Many  of  them  either  fell  in  with  our  own  convictions,  or  tended  somewhat 
to  modify  them  ;  a  few  recommended  changes  so  great  and  radical  in  tlie 
constitution  of  Presbyteries,  Synods,  and  the  Assembly,  that  we  could 
not  approve  of  them ;  some,  we  thought,  might  better  come  before  your 
body  from  another  quarter ;  while  others,   though  important  and  salu- 


C04  PllESBYTERIAJS-    CIIURCII. 

tary,  would  cause  sucli  agitation  and  opposition,  if  proposed,  as  might 
seriously  disturb  the  peace  and  harmony  of  our  so-bappily  united  Church. 
We  have  thought  proper  to  recommend  only  measm-es  which  were  of  im- 
mediate and  ijrcssing  necessity,  leaving  other  matters  to  future  and  fuller 
development. 

THE   SYNODS. 

First,  then,  as  to  the  consolidation,  adjustment,  and  defining  the  boun- 
daries of  Synods  ;  we  recommend  the  following,  viz.,  the  Synods  of  — 

1.  Lo^'G  Island  ;  to  comprise  the  counties  of  Kings,  Queens,  Suffolk, 
and  Richmond,  N.  Y. 

2.  New  York  ;  to  comprise  the  counties  of  New  York,  Westchester, 
Putnam,  Dutchess,  Rockland,  Orange,  Ulster^  and  Sullivan,  N.  Y.,  with  our 
ministers  and  chm-ches  in  the  New  England  States. 

3.  Albany  ;  to  include  north  of  the  line  of  the  Synod  of  New  York, 
and  east  of  the  west  line  of  the  counties  of  Greene,  Schoharie,  Montgom- 
ery, Fulton,  Hamilton,  and  Franlclhi,  N.  Y. 

4.  Utica  ,  to  extend  west  of  the  Synod  of  Albany,  to  the  west  line  of 
Tioga,  Cortland,  Onondaga,  and  Oswego  counties,  N.  Y.,  and  to  the 
State  line  on  the  north. 

5.  Geneva  ;  to  comprise  the  counties  west  of  Utica  to  the  west  line  of 
Steuben,  Ontario,  and  Wayne  counties,  N.  Y. 

G.  Genesee  ;  to  embrace  all  the  counties  of  New  York  west  of  the 
Synod  of  Geneva. 

7.  New  Jersey  ;  to  be  conterminous  with  that  State,  and  have  also  at- 
taclied  to  it  the  Presbytery  of  Corisco. 

8.  Phil.\delphia  ;  to  embrace  the  eastern  part  of  Pennsylvania  to  the 
west  line  of  the  counties  of  Bradford,  Sullivan,  Luzerne,  Schuylkill,  Leb- 
anon, and  York;  and  to  have  attached  to  it  the  Presbytery  of  Western , 
Africa. 

9.  IlARRiSBtTRG ;  to  comprisc  the  central  counties  of  Pennsylvania  west 
of  the  SjTiod  of  Philadelphia,  and  east  of  the  west  line  of  tlic  counties  of 
McKean,  Cameron,  Cleai-field,  Blair,  and  Bedford. 

10.  Erie;  to  comprise  the  north-west  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  west 
of  the  Synod  of  Harrisburg,  and  bounded  south  by  the  coimties  of  Cam- 
bria and  Westmoreland,  and  the  Alleglicny  and  Ohio  rivers,  to  the  State 
line,  except  that  part  of  Lidi ana  County  lying  east  and  south  of  the  Black- 
lick  Creek. 

11.  Pittsburg  ;  to  comprise  the  remainder  of  Pcimsylvania  west  of 
the  Synod  of  Harrisburg,  and  south  of  the  Synod  of  Erie ;  with  all  of 
West  Virginia  west  of  the  Allegheny  ridge. 

13.   Baltimore;  to  contain  Delaware,  Maryland,  the  District  of  Co- 


THE   EECONSTRUCTION.  605 

lumbia,  and  our  ministers  and  churches  in  Virginia  and  West  Virginia, 
east  of  the  Allegheny  ridge ;  to  have  attached  to  it,  also,  the  Presbytery 
of  Rio  Janeu'o. 

13.  Atlantic;  to  embrace  the  States  of  North  and  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  and  Florida. 

14.  Cleveland  ;  to  extend  from  the  Oliio  State  line,  on  the  east,  to  the 
west  and  south  lines  of  the  counties  of  Lorain,  Medina,  Summit,  Stark, 
Tuscarawas,  Guernsey,  Noble,  and  Monroe,  Ohio. 

15.  Toledo  ;  to  comprise  the  counties  west  of  the  Synod  of  Cleveland, 
and  to  be  bounded  by  the  east  and  south  lines  of  the  counties  of  Erie, 
Huron,  Crawford,  Wyandot,  Hardin,  Logan,  Champaign,  Shelby,  and 
Mercer,  Oliio. 

16.  Cincinnati;  to  comprise  the  coimties  bounded  by  the  north  and  cast 
lines  of  Darke,  IMiami,  Clark,  Greene,  Fayette,  Ross,  Vinton,  and  Gallia, 
Ohio. 

17.  Columbus;  to  comprise  the  remaining,  being  the  central,  counties 
of  the  State  of  Ohio. 

18.  JIichigan;  to  embrace  the  whole  of  the  lower  peninsula  of  that 
State. 

19.  Kentucky;  to  be  conterminous  with  that  State. 

20.  Tennessee  ;  to  embrace  the  States  of  Tennessee,  Louisiana,  and 
Texas,  with  all  our  ministers  and  churches  in  the  States  intervening. 

21.  Indl\na,  South;  to  extend  to  the  northern  line  of  the  counties  of 
Wayne,  Henry,  Hancock,  Marion,  Hendricks,  Putnam,  Clay,  and  Vigo, 
Ind. 

22.  Indiana,  North;  to  embrace  all  of  the  State  north  of  this 
line. 

23.  Illinois,  South  ;  to  comprise  all  of  the  State  south  of  the  nurih 
line  of  Edgar,  Douglas,  Jloultrie,  Shelby,  Christian,  Jlontgomery,  Ma,- 
coupin.  Green,  and  Calhoun  counties. 

24.  Illinois,  Central  ;  to  comprise  the  counties  north  Df  the  above 
line  to  the  south  line  of  Kankakee,  Gi-undy,  La  SaUe,  Putnam,  Bureau, 
Henry,  and  Mercer  counties.  111. 

25.  Illinois,  North  ;  to  comprise  the  remaining  counties  of  the  State, 
bounded  on  the  south  by  the  north  line  of  the  Synod  of  Illinois, 
Central. 

26.  Wisconsin  ;  to  take  in  all  that  State,  the  upper  peninsula  of  Jlich- 
igan,  and  the  county  of  St.  Louis  in  the  State  of  IMinuesota. 

27.  Minnesota  ;  to  comprise  the  State  of  ]\Iinncsota,  except  as  above, 
and  the  territory  of  Dacotah. 

28.  Iowa,  North  ;  to  comprise  all  the  State  of  Iowa  north  of  the  south 


OOG  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

line  of   Clinton,  Jones,    Linn,  Benton,   Tama,  Marsliall,   Story,   Boone, 
Greene,  Carroll,  Crawford,  and  Manona  counties. 

29.  Iowa,  South;  to  comprise  the  remainder  of  the  State  of  Iowa, 
with  Nebraska  and  the  Tenitory  of  "Wyoming. 

30.  Missoxmi ;  to  be  conterminous  with  the  State  of  lyiissomi. 

31.  Kansas  ;  to  extend  over  that  State,  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  and  the 
Indian  Territories. 

33.  Pacific;  to  embrace  all  the  region  west  of  the  Rocky  JMoim- 
<-a,ins. 

33.  India  ;  to  comprise  all  om-  missionaries  and  churches  in  that 
country. 

34.  China  ;  to  comprise  aU  our  missionaries  and  churches  in  China, 
Siam,  and  Japan. 

THE  PKESBYTERIES. 

In  regard  to  fixing  the  boundaries  of  the  various  Presbyteries,  which 
seemed  as  distinctly  assigned  to  us,  we  have  felt  not  only  that  it  would 
be  a  most  onerous  task,  which  we  could  hardly  do,  for  all  parts,  with 
just  discrimination,  or  to  general  satisfaction,  but  that  it  seemed  to  fall 
more  properly  under  the  province  of  the  different  Synods  or  their  repre- 
sentatives, who  could  do  it,  when  assembled,  more  understandingly  and  to 
the  fuller  content  of  those  interested,  than  if  done  by  us  or  by  this  As- 
sembly. Accordingly,  it  is  proposed  that  this  specific  work  be  remitted 
to  the  several  Synods,  as  now  defined  by  this  Assembly.  And,  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  uniformity  of  action  on  the  jjart  of  the  Synods 
throughout  the  whole  Church,  it  is  recommended  that  each  Synod  l^eing 
convened,  as  hereinafter  provided,  shall  organize  the  Presbyteries  within 
its  bounds  in  accordance  with  the  following  general  principles,  viz.  : 

1.  Tliat  each  several  Presbytery,  with  the  ministers  and  churches  within 
its  limits,  be  defined  as  to  bomidaries  by  geographical  Hues,  or  with  re- 
spect to  the  most  convenient  lines  of  travel. 

2.  That  Presbyteries  be  enlarged,  and  the  formation  of  small  ones  be 
discouraged ;  none  formed  hereafter  to  consist  of  less  than  five  ministers, 
the  quorum  for  l)usiness  remaining  as  heretofore. 

3.  That  in  the  formation  or  arrangement  of  Presbyteries  by  the  respec- 
tive Synods  it  be  recommended  that  no  Presbytery  consist  of  less  than  ten 
ministers  —  except  in  outlying,  frontier,  and  missionary  districts,  and  then 
to  be  constituted  as  large  as  possible. 

4.  That  when  two  or  more  congregations,  on  different  sides  of  a  Syn- 
odical  or  Presbyterial  line,  are  imder  one  pastoral  charge,  they  shall  all, 
for  the  time,  belong  to  that  Presbytery  with  which  the  minister  is  con-  ■ 
nected,  but  only  so  long  as  such  pastoral  relation  continues. 


THE   KECONSTEUCTIOI^".  607 

5.  That  ministers  without  charge  are  required  to  unite  with  that  Pres- 
bytery within  the  geographical  limits  of  which  they  ordinarily  reside,  or 
are  nearest  to,  and  to  which  they  shall  be  amenable  for  the  proper  discharge 
of  their  ordination  engagements. 

6.  That  the  Presbyteries  and  Synods  heretofore  existing,  which  shall 
lose  their  present  organization  lay  consolidation  under  these  arrangements, 
shall  be  considered  and  designated  as  continuing  their  succession  in  tliat 
Synod,  now  defined,  or  Presbytery  to  be  constituted,  which  includes  the 
largest  portion,  counting  both  ministers  and  churches  of  said  body  as  ex- 
isting May  19th,  1870,  to  preserve  its  records,  and  attend,  as  may  be  found 
necessary,  to  its  business  and  interests. 

That  the  Commissioners  of  the  Presbyteries  within  the  bounds  of  each 
Synod,  as  fixed  by  this  Assemlily,  be  respectively  appointed  a  Committee 
to  designate  the  day,  not  later  than  July  15th,  1870,  when,  and  the 
place  where,  each  Synod  shall  hold  its  first  meeting,  for  the  reorganization 
of  the  Presbyteries  within  its  Ijounds,  and  for  the  transaction  of  any  other 
business  that  may  come  before  them  ;  also,  to  nominate  some  one  to 
preach  the  opening  sermon,  and  preside  until  the  Synod  shall  be  organized 
by  the  choice  of  a  Moderator ;  and  report  the  same  to  this  General  As- 
sembly for  its  action. 

KEPKESENTATION. 

The  next  general  subject  is  that  of  Representation  in  the  General  As- 
sembly, and  a  proper  ratio  for  the  same. 

Your  Committee,  after  full  and  repeated  consideration  of  this  impor- 
tant and  difficult  subject,  are  of  the  opinion  that  a  change  to  Synodical 
representation  is  necessaiy,  in  order  to  biing  the  numbers  in  the  Assembly 
within  due  limits,  and  secure  equal  rights  to  aU  parts  of  the  Church. 
But,  so  far  as  we  can  discover,  the  Chm-ch  generally  is  not  yet  prepared 
for  such  a  change ;  and  the  Committee  desii-e  to  avoid  all  occasion  of 
discord  in  our  united  Church,  or  needless  discussions  on  this  subject  in 
this  General  Assembly.  Therefore,  no  change  from  Presbyterial  represen- 
tation is  i^roposed ;  nor  would  we  at  present  advise  any  change  in  the 
ratio  of  representation,  but  leave  the  matter  as  it  is  ordered  by  chapter 
xii.,  section  2,  of  the  Form  of  Government. 

LIMITATION  OF   APPEALS. 

For  the  relief  of  the  General  Assembly  in  the  dispatch  of  business, 
and  to  discourage  pertinacious  litigation  in  Church  courts,  the  Committee 
recommend  that  all  Appeals,  References,  and  Complaiats  terminate  at  the 
Synod,  except  in  relation  to  questions  of  constitutional  law,  or  the  trial 
of  a  minister  for  heresy  in  doctrine. 


608  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


STAJSTDING   KULES. 

For  the  purpose  of  securing  the  necessary  constitutional  changes  iol 
the  foregoing  objects,  the  Committee  propose  that  this  General  Assembly 
send  down  to  the  Presbyteries  the  following  Overtures,  viz.  : 

1.  In  the  Form  of  Government,  chapter  x.,  section  2,  after  the  word 
Ministers,  to  insert,   "'in  number  not  less  than  five." 

2.  In  the  Form  of  Government,  chapter  xii.,  section  4,  to  add  to  the 
first  sentence,  at  its  close,  the  following  words  :  "and which  relate  exclu- 
sively to  the  construction  of  the  Constitution,  or  the  trial  of  a  minister 
for  heresy  in  doctrine." 

3.  In  the  Form  of  Government,  chapter  xi.,  at  the  end  of  section 
4,  to  add  the  following  sentence:  "Every  case  of  the  trial  of  a 
minister  for  heresy  in  doctrine,  and  all  questions  relating  exclusively  to 
the  construction  of  the  Constitution,  may  be  carried  by  appeal  or  complaint 
to  the  General  Assemlily ;  in  all  other  cases  or  questions  the  decision 
of  the  Sjmod  shall  be  final." 

4.  In  the  Book  of  Discipline,  chapter  vii.,  section  2,  to  read  as  follows, 
viz.  :  "  Every  kind  of  decision  which  is  formed  in  any  church  judicatory, 
except  the  highest,  may  be  reviewed  l^y  a  suijerior  judicatory,  subject  to 
the  limitation  of  appeals  from  the  Synod  as  provided  in  the  Fonn  of 
Government,  and  may  be  earned  before  it  in  one  or  the  other  of  the  four 
following  ways." 

Moreover,  it  is  recommended  that  the  Assembly  instruct  and  order  all 
the  Presbyteries,  when  reconstructed,  at  their  first  appointed  meeting,  to 
vote  directly  yea  or  nrnj  on  tliese  several  Overtures,  and  send  forthwith 
an  attested  copy  of  their  action  to  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Assembly,  who 
shall  keep  an  accurate  accoimt  of  the  same,  and  report  it  to  the  next  As- 
sembly. 

Finally,  your  Committee  will  close  their  report  with  a  suggestion  for 
the  action  of  the  Assembly,  which  they  think  would  secure  greater  efli- 
ciency  and  dispatch  in  their  business. 


OVERTURES   TO  THE  ASSESnSLY. 

As  much  time  is  consumed,  and  the  attention  of  the  Assembly  dis- 
tracted with  Overtures,  and  Questions  of  minor  importance,  coming  up 
from  various  quartera,  impeding  the  transaction  of  business  of  more  gen- 
eral interest,  it  is  recommended  that  the  Assembly  order  that,  hereafter. 
Bills  and  Overtures  come  up  only  from  Synods  or  Presbyteries ;  yet 
that  tliis  may  not  prevent  any  Committee  of  Bills,  and  Overtures  from 
bringing  before  the  house,  of  its  owti  motion,  upon  a  two-thirds  vote  of 


THE    EECOXSTEUCTIOIT.  609 

the  Committee,  any  matter  wliicli  they  may  deem  of  sufScient  importance 
to  engage  the  attention  of  the  General  Assembly. 

After  the  adoption  of  tliis  report  as  amended,  ar 
rangements  were  immediately  made  for  convening  tlie 
various  Synods  defined  by  it.  An  enabling  act,  prepared 
by  tlie  Rev.  Dr.  Hatfield  and  Hon.  AVilliam  Strong,  was 
also  passed,  by  wliicli  tlie  several  Synods  and  the  Pres- 
byteries that  compose  them  become  the  legal  successors 
of  those  into  which  the  Church  was  formerly  divided. 
Since  the  adjournment  of  the  Assembly  these  Synods 
have  met  in  conformity  with  its  appointment,  and,  ^^dth 
the  greatest  harmony,  have  performed  their  part,  in 
turn  defining  the  l>ounds  of  the  new  Presbyteries  ac- 
cording to  the  principles  adopted  in  the  report  on 
Reconstruction.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  thus, 
without  any  fiiction  or  dissatisfaction,  the  numl:>er  of 
the  Presbyteries  has  been  reduced  fi'om  two  hundred 
and  fifty-nine  to  one  hundred  and  sixty-five.  Most  of 
these  are  well  bounded  by  geographical  lines,  so  laid 
down  that  the  convenience  of  the  members  of  them, 
and  the  advantage  of  the  churches  composing  them, 
are  well  secured. 

When  the  Reunion  was  still  in  progress,  and  not  yet 
consummated,  the  remark  was  frequently  heard  that 
the  relation  of  the  Theological  Seminaries  to  the 
General  Assembly  would  give  rise  to  difiScult  and  deli- 
cate questions.  Some  of  them  were  already  subject  to 
the  Assembly's  control ;  others  were  under  Presbyterial 
supervision,  or  that  of  a  Board  of  Directors.  It  was 
feared  that  the  effort  to  bring  them  all  under  one  i)]an 
of   administration   satisfactory   to  the   whole   Churcli 


010  PEESBTTEKIAN   CHUECH. 

woiild  occasion  prolonged,  perhaps  excited  discussions. 
Happily,  such  fears  were  not  justified  by  the  event. 
In  the  Pro\'idence  of  God,  at  a  very  early  stage  of  its 
sessions,  the  whole  matter  was  brought  before  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  in  such  a  form  as  seemed  to  meet  the 
views  of  all  the  brethren,  and  to  promise  in  the  future 
the  utmost  harmony  and  success  in  the  management 
and  direction  of  these  Seminaries.  The  Directors  of 
the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York,  had  pre- 
pared a  memorial,  which  was  read  to  the  Assembly. 
In  this  paper  they  suggest  as  a  rule  and  plan,  that  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  each  Seminary  be  authorized  to 
appoint  its  professors,  subject  to  the  veto  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly.  A  Memorial  appended  to  the  Report 
of  the  Directors  of  Princeton  Theological  Seminary 
made  request  for  the  same  rule,  asking  also  that  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  Princeton  Seminary  have  power 
besides  to  fill  vacancies  in  their  number,  subject  to  the 
Assembly's  veto.  In  behalf  of  the  Trustees  of  i\.uburn 
and  Lane  Seminaries,  representations  were  made  that 
their  Boards  mU.  give  most  cordial  assent  to  the  plan 
proposed,  or  to  any  other  plan  which  the  Assembly 
adopts.  In  view  of  these  communications,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Musgrave,  in  the  coui'se  of  some  remarks  upon  the  Re- 
port of  the  Directors  of  Princeton  Seminary,  pi'oceeded 
to  say:: 

Will  you  allow  me  to  add,  that  this  is  an  additional  cause  for  congratu- 
lation and  for  thanksgiving  to  God  [api^lause] ;  that  even  these  questions 
of  the  Tlieological  Seminaries,  which  we  thought  the  most  difficult  to 
adjust  and  that  would  be  likely  to  give  us  the  greatest  troulile,  are  tlnis 
amical)ly  adjusted  by  their  respective  Boards  of  Directoi-s.  [Applause.] 
Is  it  not  another  proof  that  the  whole  Reunion  is  from  God,  and  that  we 


THE   EECONSTRUCTIOiSr.  611 

have  the  earnest  of  perpetual  unity  and  harmony  not  only,  but  of  in- 
creased efficiency  in  every  department  of  our  work  ?     [Applause.  ] 

In  accordance  with  these  views  the  Committee  on 
Theological  Seminaries  reported  the  following  plan 
and  resolutions  to  the  Assembly,  which  were  subse- 
quently adopted : 

1.  Accepting  the  offer  so  generously  made  by  the  Directors  of  the 
Union  Theological  Seminary  in  New  York,  a  Seminary  independent  hith- 
erto of  all  direct  ecclesiastical  control,  to  invest  the  General  Assembly  with 
the  nght  of  a  veto  in  the  election  of  Professors  in  that  institution,  this 
Assembly  would  invite  all  those  Theological  Seminaries  not  now  under 
the  control  of  the  General  Assemlily,  to  adopt,  at  their  earliest  convenience, 
the  same  rule  and  method,  to  the  end  that  throughout  the  whole  Pres- 
byterian Church  there  may  be  unifonn  and  complete  confidence  in  those 
intrusted  with  the  training  of  our  candidates  for  the  ministry, 

2.  That  the  several  Boards  of  Directors  of  those  Seminaries  which  are 
now  under  the  control  of  the  General  Asseml^ly  shall  be  authorized  to 
elect,  suspend,  and  displace  the  Professors  of  the  Seminaries  under  their 
care,  suljject  in  all  cases  to  the  veto  of  the  General  Assembly,  to  whom  they 
shall  annually  make  a  full  rejjort  of  their  proceedings,  and  to  whom  their 
minutes  shall  be  submitted  whenever  the  Assembly  shall  require  them  to 
be  produced.  Tliese  Boards  shall  further  be  authorized  to  fix  the  salaries 
of  tlie  Professors,  and  to  fill  their  own  vacancies,  subject  in  all  cases  to 
the  veto  of  the  General  Assemlily. 

3.  Besohed,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  by  the  Assembly  to 
propose  such  alterations  in  the  plans  of  the  Seminaries  now  under  tlie  con- 
trol of  the  Assembly,  as  shall  be  deemed  necessary  to  cany  into  effect  the 
principles  alcove  stated,  and  that  said  Committee  report  to  this  or  to  the 
next  succeeding  Assembly, 

4.  In  case  the  Board  of  Directors  of  any  Tlieological   Seminary  now 
under  the  control  of  the  General  Assembly  should  prefer  to  retain  their 
present  relation  to   this  body,  the  jjlan  of  such  Seminary  shall  remain 
unaltered- 
Passing  in   review  the  Assembly's  work  of  Eecon- 

struction,  it  is  not  essential  to  observe  as  to  the  record 
the  same  order  in  which  the  different  topics  came  up  for 


612  PEESBYTEKIA^f   CHURCH. 

decision.  Witli  reference  to  all  tlie  Boards  and  Perma- 
nent Committees  of  botli  tlie  Old  and  the  New  School, 
the  Assemblies  of  1869,  at  their  adjourned  meetings  at 
Pittsburg,  raised  Joint  Committees  to  combine  and 
consolidate  the  former  organizations,  and  to  report 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  1870.  In  each  case  these 
Committees  faithfully  discharged  their  trust,  and,  with 
some  judicious  modifications,  theii*  rej^orts  were  adopted. 
The  great  importance  of  the  subject  demands  an  early 
reference  to  the  plans  adoj)ted  for  Home  Missiois^s 
and  for  Foreign  Missions.  The  Board  of  Domestic 
Missions  of  the  Old  School,  and  the  Permanent  Com- 
.mittee  on  Home  Missions  of  the  JSTew  School,  each 
presented  its  Annual  Eeport  to  the  Assembly.  A 
Standing  Committee,  of  which  the  Chaii'man  was  of 
the  late  Old  School  branch,  carefully  considered  these 
documents.  In  reviewing  them  in  its  report  and 
resolutions,  this  Committee  spoke  in  terms  of  approba- 
tion mth  reference  to  both  organizations,  commending 
the  efficiency  and  competency  of  their  management. 
The  following  extract  from  the  Report  of  the  New 
School  Permanent  Committee  on  Home  Missions  was 
especially  approved,  as  well  calculated  to  indicate  the 
proposed  future  policy  of  the  new  Board  in  the  Re- 
united Chui'ch : 

There  -was  an  obvious  propriety  that  we  should  insure  tliose  whom  we 
sent  into  the  field  against  suffering.  We  first  guaranteed  them  $600 
and  tlicir  necessary  travelling  expenses,  and  as  jirices  advanced  we  were 
compelled  to  advance  the  rate  per  annum  $200  more.  We  found  in  the 
field  at  first  many  who,  for  want  of  adequate  sui>poi-t,  could  not  give 
themselves  wholly  to  their  ministiy.  Some  were  teachers,  many  were 
fanners,    and  in   consequence  many  of  them  were  non-resident  stated 


THE    EECONSTRUCTIOlSr.  613 

supplies.     We  have  believed  it  a  better  policy  and  the  only  true  economy 
to  pay  the  laborer  more,  so  that  we  could  command  his  entire  services. 

The  Joint  Committee  on  Home  Missions  had  recom- 
mended that  the  name  of  the  new  Board  be,  "The 
Board  of  Home  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America."  This  suggestion 
was  adopted,  and  also  the  following  provisions,  with 
reference  to  the  late  "Board  of  Domestic  Missions," 
and  "  Permanent  Committee  on  Home  Missions : " 

1.  That  this  Assemljly  designate  the  locality  in  which  the  chief  opera- 
tions of  the  new  Board  shall  be  carried  on,  and  in  which  the  principal 
office  for  that  puqjose  shall  be  located. 

2.  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  by  this  Assembly,  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  endeavor  to  procure  all  the  legislation  required  by  the  exi- 
gencies of  the  case,  and  direct  the  transfer  of  property  now  lield  l)y  the 
two  bodies  above  described,  on  receiving  the  opinion  of  competent 
counsel  that  the  authority  of  the  new  body  is  perfect. 

3.  ]\Ieantime,  till  such  a  result  has  been  reached,  that  both  of  the  exist- 
ing organizations  be  kept  up  in  the  form  rcqmi'ed  by  their  respective 
charters. 

Subsequently,  by  an  affirmative  vote  of  two-thirds, 
the  Assembly  decided  that  the  place  for  the  future 
Board  of  Home  Missions  shall  be  the  city  of  New 
York.  It  ha\^ng  been  agreed  that  the  existence  of 
both  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  and  the  Perma- 
nent Committee  on  Home  Missions,  as  corporate  bodies, 
be  maintained  until  such  a  time  as  they  can  be  joined 
into  one  Board,  thereupon  two  Secretaries  and  a  Trea- 
sui'er  were  elected  by  acclamation,  as  the  officers  of  the 
new  Board  into  Avhich  they  are  to  be  merged.  The 
Assembly,  however,  while  thus  exercising  its  right  to 
designate  the  officers  of  one  of  its  Boards,  expressed  its 
desire  that  the  act,  apparently  necessary  in  the  peculiar 


614  PEESBYTERIAN   CHUECH. 

exigencies  of  the  case,  miglit  not  be  used  as  a  precedent 
under  ordinary  circumstances.  Arrangements  were 
also  made  by  wliicli  the  necessary  legislation  for  com- 
bining both  the  existing  organizations  into  one  may  be 
promptly  and  satisfactorily  obtained.  The  new  Board 
will  consist  of  twenty  members,  five  constituting  a 
quorum.  There  is  every  indication  that  in  the  future 
Church  our  Domestic  Missionaries  will  be  more  ade- 
quately supported,  and  that  their  work  will  more 
thoroughly  than  ever  before  enlist  the  prayers  and 
efforts  of  all  God's  people. 

In  many  j^ortions  of  the  field  where  two  or  more 
Mission  stations  have  hitherto  existed,  these  will  be 
combined  into  one,  which,  by  its  greater  strength,  will 
become  more  efiicient  for  good.  By  a  similar  concen- 
tration of  resources,  in  various  places  where  two  mis- 
sionaries have  hitherto  labored,  one  will  be  retained, 
and  the  other  commissioned  to  a  new  and  more  desti- 
tute position,  where  he  will  find  ample  room  in  which 
to  work  for  Christ. 

As  to  FoEEiGN  Missions,  the  task  of  the  General 
Assembly  was  more  simple,  as  there  were  not  two 
Boards  or  Committees  to  be  fused  together.  The  New 
School  having  hitherto  performed  its  pai-t  in  the  mat- 
ter through  the  American  Board,  the  only  measm-e 
necessary  was  to  give  both  former  branches  a  proper 
representation  for  the  future  management  of  the  work. 
The  consolidated  Church  adopts  as  its  owoi  the  old 
organization,  retaining  its  name.  The  number  of  the 
Board  was  fixed  by  the  Assembly  at  fifteen  mem- 
bers, divided  into  classes  of  five  each,  each  class  serving 
three   years,  and  one-third  of  the  whole  number  con- 


THE    EEC0I7STHUCTI0I^.  615 

stituting  a  quorum.  Tlie  cliurclies  of  the  former  New 
School  branch  are  preparing,  after  the  present  financial 
year,  to  retire  from  their  long  and  pleasant  connection 
with  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  For- 
eign Missions,  and  to  bring  their  contributions  and 
their  co-operation  to  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions.  It  was  understood  that  a  third  Secretary, 
elected  from  the  former  New  School  branch,  would  be 
added  to  the  two  former  Secretaries  of  the  Board. 
The  work  of  assuming  the  support  and  control  of  cer- 
tain missions  hitherto  sustained  by  the  New  School 
branch,  in  correspondence  with  the  American  Board, 
must  evidently  be  a  gradual  one.  Harmony  and 
kindly  feeling  will  doubtless  still  obtain  between  those 
sister  societies,  that  work  together  in  different  fiehls 
for  a  common  object.  A  Committee  appointed  hv  the 
New  School  Assembly,  in  1869,  to  confer  with  the 
American  Board,  was  continued  to  complete  the  nego- 
tiations already  commenced,  and  to  report  to  the  next 
Assembly. 

The  report  of  this  Committee,  of  which  the  Bev. 
Dr.  Jonathan  F.  Stearns  was  the  Chairman,  is  so 
important  that  it  is  given  in  full  in  the  A2:)pendix, 
as  well  as  the  action  of  the  Prudential  Committee  of 
the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreisrn 
Missions,  to  which  the  conference  of  the  Assembly's 
Committee  with  the  officers  of  that  Board  gave  rise. 

The  subject  of  Publication  occupied  much  of  the 
attention  of  the  Assembly,  and  elicited  considerable 
debate.  Both  portions  of  the  Church  possessed  organ- 
izations well  ofiicered  and  aj^pointed  to  perform  the 
work  of  preparing  and  cii'culating  religious  literature 


616  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

on  a  liberal  scale.  Botli  were  located  in  Pliilaclelplila. 
Both  were  found  to  be  operating  faithfully  and  suc- 
cessfully. The  General  Assembly  combined  them  into 
one  Board,  under  the  title  of  "  The  Presbyterian  Board 
of  Publication."  This  Board  is  to  be  composed  of  forty- 
eight  members,  taken  in  equal  number  from  each  of  the 
late  branches — one-half  ministers.  They  are  divided 
into  thi-ee  classes,  each  class  serving  for  three  years. 
Presbyteries  are  hereafter  to  appoint  a  Presbj^terial 
Publication  Committee,  which  Committee  shall,  in  that 
Presbytery,  supervise  the  work  of  secui'ing  an  annual 
collection  for  this  Board  from  each  of  its  churches ;  shall 
search  out  and  recommend  to  the  Board  suitable  per- 
sons to  act  as  colporteui-s ;  shall  corresj^ond  mth  the 
Board  in  reference  to  its  work  in  that  Presbytery; 
and  shall  do  whatever  else  may  tend  to  promote  the 
work  and  interests  of  the  Board,  and  to  secure  a  thor- 
ough distribution  of  the  Board's  publications  within 
and  throughout  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery. 

All  the  property  of  both  the  former  organizations  is 
to  be  united  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  new  Board, 
and  an  equal  representation  within  it  is  secui-ed  to  both 
of  the  former  branches  of  the  Chm-ch.  A  prolonged 
debate  upon  the  appropriation  of  the  futui'e  profits  of 
the  Board  resulted  in  the  i-ejection  of  the  following 
minute : 


It  is  to  be  understood  by  all  parties  to  this  an'angement,  and  it  is  di- 
rected by  this  General  Asseml^ly,  that  the  property  thus  vested  in  "The 
Trustees  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication,"  together  with  all 
which  may  hereafter  be  given  to  it  for  publication  jjurposes,  and  all  the 
net  profits  of  its  business,  arc  to  l)e  perpetually  and  sacredly  used  in  the 
work  of  publishing  and  diffusing  a  sound  religious  literature,  and  for  no 


THE    RECON-STEUCTIOI^.  617 

other  puqjose,  in  accordance  with  trusts  heretofore  accepted  and  pledges 
heretofore  given. 

It  was  also  decided  to  sell  the  real  estate  used  pre- 
viously by  the  Old  School  branch,  and  to  erect  upon 
the  premises  of  the  other,  or  near  them,  a  larger  house, 
adequate  to  the  extended  operations  of  the  new  Boai'd. 
The  resolution  to  effect  this  result  was  followed  l^y 
the  adoption  of  the  f  oUoAving : 

In  order  that  the  above  recommendation  may  be  carried  out  so  as  tc 
provide  ample  accommodation  for  the  Board's  future  business,  and  for  all 
our  other  Presbyterian  interests  in  this  city,  without  tlie  absorption  of  any 
]iart  of  its  capital  now  used  and  needed  for  the  publication  and  distril^u- 
tion  of  a  religious  literature,  it  is  recommended  that  the  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  be  raised  among  our  chm'ches  and  people  for  the 
erection  and  equipment  of  said  Publication  House,  and  all  contrilmtions 
made  thereto  shall  l^e  recognized  as  a  i)ai-t  of  the  offering  of  five  milli(jus 
of  dollars,  which  it  was  at  Pittsburg  resolved  to  raise. 

The  Assembly  also  adopted  these  recommendations : 

We  recommend  the  Board  to  give  special  and  prominent  attention  to 
Sabbath-school  literature,  and  to  its  introduction  into  Sabbath  schools. 

We  recommend  that  the  Board,  at  as  early  a  date  as  possil)le,  consider 
the  propriety  of  estal  )lishing  a  Department  of  Sal)bath  Schools,  whose 
office  it  shall  be  to  promote  the  number  and  efficiency  of  Sal)bath  schools 
throughout  the  congregations  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

We  recommend  that  the  excellent  "Sal)1)ath  School  Visitor"  should  be 
circulated  much  more  widely  than  it  has  hitherto  been,  and  that  the  pas- 
tors and  chui'ches  should  exert  themselves  to  secure  this  end. 

We  recommend  that  the  two  publications,  the  "Record"  and  the 
"Presbyterian  Monthly,"  be  merged  in  one,  and  that  measures  be  devised 
and  adopted  to  have  that  one  periodical  competently  edited,  and  full  of 
information  likely  to  interest  the  families  of  our  people. 

Deeply  imjjressed  with  the  importance  of  the  colportagc  work  conducted 
1)y  the  Board,  we  would  strongly  urge  its  extension,  as  being  tlic  means 
best  fitted  to  make  known  the  truths  of  salvation  to  multitudes  in  our 
comitry,  and  to  Roman  Catholics  and  persons  separated  fi-om  the  oidinary 
means  of  grace. 


618  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

We  recommend  that  the  Board  consider  what  may  be  the  best  means 
of  effecting  some  imdcrstanding  as  to  the  issue  of  Books  of  Psalmody,  and 
rei^ort  on  the  subject  to  the  next  General  Assembly. 

We  are  happy  to  find  that  Books  and  Tracts  have  been  furnished  so  gen- 
erally to  ministers,  to  domestic  and  foreign  missionaiies,  and  to  Saljbath 
schools ;  and  recommend  that  these  gifts  be  continued  and  increased. 


It  will  be  evident,  from  a  careful  perusal  of  the 
above  papers,  that  in  no  respect  was  the  action  of  the 
Assembly  more  thorough  or  provident  than  in  its  di- 
rection of  this  important  subject.  The  new  Board  of 
Publication  enters  upon  its  career  with  ample  accom- 
modations for  its  printing  and  other  mechanical  work, 
with  abundant  capital,  mth  an  eligible  salesroom,  and 
with  the  ripe  ex]3erience  of  its  officers.  A  bright 
future,  full  of  the  triumphs  of  saving  truth,  is  assured 
to  it,  if  God's  blessing  accompanies  it  hereafter  as  it 
has  accompanied  its  predecessors. 

In  theii*  plans  for  the  education  of  young  men 
with  a  view  to  the  ministry,  but  little  difference  was 
found  to  exist  between  the  policy  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation of  the  Old  School,  and  that  of  the  Permanent 
Committee  on  Education  of  the  New  School.  Upon  the 
recommendation  of  the  Joint  Committee  to  adjust  their 
affaii's,  the  Assembly  adopted  the  following  measures : 


The  title  of  the  new  Board  is,  "The  Board  of  Education  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  United  States  of  America."  Its  olijects  shall  be  the 
general  superintendence  of  the  Church's  work  in  furnishing  a  pious,  edu- 
cated, and  efficient  ministry  in  sufficient  numbers  to  meet  tlie  calls  of  its 
congregations,  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  destitute  classes  and  regions  in 
cm*  own  country,  and  to  go  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
every  creature.  It  shall  provide  for  the  collection  and  judicious  distribu- 
tion of  the  funds  whicli  may  be  requisite  in  the  projicr  education  of  candi- 
dates for  the  ministry  under  its  care,  and  it  shall,  in  co-optration  with  tlio 


THE    RECOXSTEUCTIOX.  619 

ecclesiastical  com-ts,  do  -vyhatever  may  be  proper  aud  nccessaiy  to  develop 
an  active  interest  in  education  thi-oughout  the  Church. 

The  Board  will  consist  of  twelve  members,  of  which 
six  are  to  be  ministers.  It  is  to  be  divided,  like  the 
other  Boards,  into  three  classes,  so  that  a  j^ortion  will 
be  elected  each  year.  Five  constitute  a  quorum.  The 
fifth  and-  sixth  articles  of  the  Constitution  define  the 
functions  of  the  Board,  and  the  relation  of  the  Pres- 
byteries to  it,  thus : 

Article  V. 

Functions.  — Sec.  1.  The  Board  shall  act  through  the  Presbyteries  of  the 
Chui-ch.  Candidates  for  the  ministry,  when  properly  examined  and  re- 
ceived by  the  Presbyteries,  and  recommended  for  aid  to  the  Board,  shall 
receive  the  amount  specified,  within  the  limits  prescribed  by  the  Assembly, 
provided  in  all  cases  that  a  discretionaiy  power,  necessary  to  the  general 
trust  committed,  shall  be  exercised  by  the  Board ;  and  the  Board  shall  re- 
quire that  each  recommendation  shall  be  accompanied  with  such  informa- 
tion as  may  be  necessary  to  the  intelligent  and  judicious  iierformance  of 
its  duties. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  exercise  a  general  supervisory  care  over  the  students, 
through  annual  renewals  of  recommendations  from  Presbyteries,  aud  quar- 
terly reports  from  instructors,  and  through  the  correspondence  of  its  Secre- 
tary, and  his  personal  visits  to  literary  and  theological  institutions  and 
the  judicatories  of  the  Chm-ch,  and  by  other  appropriate  instrumentalities. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  take  all  suitable  means  to  inform  the  Church  as  to  the 
duties  and  interests  relating  to  the  consecration  of  her  young  men  to  the 
office  of  the  ministiy,  and  their  sound  and  thorough  education,  and  to 
urge  the  effective  care  of  her  judicatories  over  them ;  and  it  shall  make 
such  statements  and  appeals  as  are  calculated  to  secure  contributions  suffi- 
cient for  the  accomplishment  of  its  ends.  It  shall  make  a  full  annual  re- 
port of  its  work  to  the  General  Assembly. 

Article  VI. 
Relation  of  the  Presbyteries  to  the  Board.  —  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each 
Presl)ytery  to  see  that  collections  are  taken  up  annually  for  tliis  cause  in 
all  the  churches  under  its  care  ;   to  make  the  subject  of  increase  of  candi- 
dates for  the  ministry  a  topic  of  serious  consideration  in  its  meetmgs,  at 


620  PRESBYTEPvIAlS"    CUUECH. 

least  once  a  year;  to  appoint  a  standing  committee  to  act  for  Presbytery  in 
all  matters  pertaining  to  this  cause,  when  it  is  not  in  session ;  to  recommend 
to  the  Board  proper  cases  for  its  aid,  and  to  make  an  annual  report  of  the 
transactions  of  the  Presbytery  on  the  ■whole  subject  to  the  Board,  previous 
to  the  meetings  of  the  General  Assembly. 

The  Board  is  to  be  located  in  Pliiladelpliia,  and  is 
instructed  to  take  sucli  legal  steps  as  are  necessary  to 
secure  to  it  tlie  present  property  of  the  Board  of  Edu 
cation,  located  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  Permanent 
Committee,  located  at  New  York ;  so  that  this  property, 
and  any  funds  mth  which  either  is  or  may  be  in- 
trusted, or  which  may  hereafter  be  received  by  bequest 
or  otherwise,  for  purposes  of  ministerial  education, 
shall  be  managed  by  one  and  the  same  Board  and  its 
successors  as  trustees  thereof;  and  that  said  Board 
have  authority  to  aj^ply  for  and  obtain  a  charter  of 
incorporation,  or  such  modification  of  the  existing  char- 
ter as  they  may  deem  proper.  It  is  fui-ther  recom- 
mended that  the  organizations  of  the  "  Permanent  Com- 
mittee on  Education*"  and  the  "  Board  of  Education  " 
be  continued,  so  far  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  ]:>m'- 
pose  of  holding  and  transferring  to  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, as  arranged  l)y  the  present  General  Assembly, 
such  funds  and  trusts  as  may  have  been,  or  shall  be, 
committed  to  them. 

In  subsequently  adopting  the  suggestions  of  the 
Standing  Committee  upon  this  subject,  the  General  As- 
sembly acknowledged  the  need  of  a  careful  selection 
of  candidtites,  and  of  a  high  standard  of  qualifications 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry.  It  recommended  ample 
provision  for  the  wants  of  the  students  of  the  Church  ; 
and,  while  acloiowbdging  that  the  processes  and  ap- 


THE   EECOr^STEUCTIOX.  621 

pllances  for  the  education  of  the  rising  ministiy  admit 
of  great  improvements,  insisted  upon  the  importance  of 
having  the  youthful  candidates  trained  to  preach  well^ 
in  the  highest  sense  of  the  phrase.  The  above  extracts 
from  the  Assembly's  action  suiSciently  exhibit  the  fact 
that  the  Reunited  Church  recognizes  the  indispensable 
imjDortance  of  a  thoroughly  trained  ministry,  while 
making  ample  provision  to  secure  it  for  its  future  mem- 
bers. The  new  Board  of  Education  goes  into  opera- 
tion with  about  six  hundred  young  men  under  its  care, 
more  than  two  hundred  of  whom  will  be  pui'suing  their 
theological  studies.  With  the  results  of  a  past  useful  his- 
tory to  aid  its  highly  respected  officers,  and  the  prayers 
and  benefactions  of  the  many  thousands  of  our  Zion,  it 
cannot  fail  to  do  its  precious  work  wisely  and  well. 

As  to  Chuech  Eeection,  the  action  of  the  General 
Assembly  was  well  considered  and  thorough.  It  was 
rendered  the  more  simple,  because,  wliile  the  Chm-ch 
Erection  Fund  of  the  New  School  was  a  chartered  in- 
stitution, the  Board  of  Church  Extension  of  the  Old 
School  was  without  a  charter  or  permanent  funds. 
Among  the  recommendations  adopted  were  these : 

Thfit  the  operations  of  tlie  United  Church  be  carried  on  under  the  charter 
of  "Tlie  Trustees  of  the  Chiu-ch  Erection  Fund  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America,"  anel  that  its  location  be  continued  in  the 
city  of  New  York. 

That  the  members  of  tlxe  Board  be  choseu  impartially  from  both  branches 
of  the  Churcli ;  that  their  numl^er  be  twenty-one,  consisting  of  ten  miuis- 
tei-s  and  eleven  elders  acting  in  connection  with  the  Presljyterian  Church ; 
and  that  the  entire  Board  so  formed  be  expected  to  meet  at  least  once  each 
year. 

That  fifteen  members,  seven  ministers  and  eight  elders,  shall  reside  in 
the  city  of  New  York  or  its  vicinity.  That  at  an  early  day  an  amend- 
ment of  the  charter  be  obtained,  authorizing  these  fifteen  local  members 


622  PllESBTTErjA:!^    ClIUECH. 

to  act  as  Trustees  of  fhe  Fund ;  but  until  such  change  can  be  secured,  nine 
of  the  fifteen  meml)crs  shall  continue  to  hold  the  said  Trusteeship  under 
the  provisions  now  existing. 

That  six  members  of  the  Board,  three  ministers  and  three  eldei-s,  shall 
be  chosen  from  the  West.  This  recommendation  is  made  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  certain  properties  held  by  the  Board  of  Church  Extension  are 
temporarily  located  in  Missouri,  and  require  a  local  supervision.  It  also 
seems  desirable  that  the  Board  shall  have  representatives  on  the  ground 
who  may  secure  those  grants  of  land  which  are  so  freely  offered  for 
Church  purjjoses  by  railroad  and  town  companies  throughout  the  West ; 
also  to  have  special  oversight  in  the  matter  of  insurance  on  church  proper- 
ties —  a  matter  of  great  importance,  in  which  it  is  feared  there  is  at  present 
great  neglect. 

The  Assembly  also  called  the  attention  of  its  Pres- 
byteries and  churches  to  the  importance  of  this  work. 
Its  language  is :  , 

If  any  comparison  may  be  made,  it  is  more  important  to  secure  the 
church  edifice  (in  the  present  condition  of  our  frontier,  with  its  rapidly  in- 
creasing land  prices)  than  the  missionary  himself.  We  may  provide  the 
missionary  next  year,  but  with  the  land  for  a  church  it  is  now  or  never. 

In  making  arrangements  for  Ministerial  Eelief,  the 
Assembly  of  1870,  availing  itself  of  the  labors  of  its 
Joint  Committee,  arranged  for  more  thoroughly  supply- 
ing the  wants  of  the  veteran  soldiers  of  the  Chm-ch, 
and  theii'  widows  and  orphans.  The  centre  of  opera- 
tions for  this  necessary  fund  is  to  be  Philadelphia.  It 
is  placed,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Assembly,  in  the 
hands  of  faithful  and  kindly  men.  With  officers  of 
tried  experience  and  fidelity,  it  is  recommended  in  the 
strongest  terms  to  the  justice  and  liberality  of  the 
cliurches. 

The  work  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  the  Fkeed- 
JtEN,  as  its  value  demands,  received  a  full  share  of  time 


THE  eeco:n"steuction.  C23 

and  attention.  In  the  deliberations  that  it  called  forth, 
several  brethi'en  of  color,  representatives  of  Southern 
Presbyteries,  were  listened  to  with  much  pleasure. 
The  Assembly's  Committee  (Old  School),  and  the  Freed- 
men's  Department  of  the  Presbyterian  Committee  of 
Home  Missions  (New  School),  and  their  secretaries, 
were  praised  for  their  fidelity  and  energy  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  work  committed  to  them. 

It  was  resolved  to  conduct  the  efforts  of  the  Church 
for  the  colored  race  in  this  country,  including  both  their 
religious  and  educational  interests,  under  the  charge  of 
a  Committee  of  twelve  members,  five  being  a  quorum, 
with  its  location  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  The  cause 
was  earnestly  commended  to  the  churches,  and  the  var- 
ious Boards  were  recommended  to  co-operate  with  the 
Committee  supervising  it.  In  re-organizing  this  Com- 
mittee the  Assemldy  expressed  its  oj^inion  that  the 
great  need  of  the  Freedmen  to-day  is  a  supply  of  com- 
petent preachers  and  teachers,  raised  up  from  among 
themselves.     It  also  adopted  this  language : 


For  help  in  this  matter  we  look  with  hoi^e  to  Lincoln  University,  Bid- 
die  Memorial  Institute,  and  the  Normal  School  of  Winchester,  Va.,  and 
other  similar  institutions  established  by  our  Church.  We  especially  urge 
the  necessity  of  providing  schools  where  females  may  enjoy  advantages 
that  may  enable  them  to  keep  pace  with  the  other  sex  in  intellectual  and 
moral  elevation. 


One  of  the  most  important  discussions  of  the  General 
Assembly  occurred  in  connection  mth  resolutions  intro- 
duced by  the  Eev.  John  C.  Backus,  D.D.  These  reso- 
lutions, although  not  passed,  and  thus  not  appearing  in 
the  Minutes  for  1870,  deserve  notice  not  only  for  their 


G24  PRESBYTEraAN  cnur.ciT. 

intrinsic  value,  but  principally  because  the  consiJera 
tion  of  them  paved  the  way  for  the  suggestion  of  a 
plan  for  the  "  unification  "  of  the  work  of  the  Church, 
to  be  consummated  by  another  Assembly.  One  of 
these  resolutions  is  as  follows :  '  *" 

Eesolved,  That  a  Committee  of  fifteen,  representing  all  sections  of  the 
Church,  and  having  power  to  fill  vacancies,  be  appointed  by  this  General 
Assembly  to  examine  all  the  above  reports  and  the  plans  and  modes  of 
benevolent  operations  of  sister  chm-chcs  at  home  and  al^road,  and  vnih.  all 
the  light  thus  gained  to  devise  a  general  uniform  i^lan,  that  shall  combine 
and  economize  and  give  as  much  cfiiciency  as  possible  to  all  our  schemes 
of  benevolence,  and  report  the  same  to  the  next  General  Assembly. 

In  its  support,  Dr.  Backus  said : 

We  are  about  to  enter  upon  the  great  work  of  this  Church,  which  is  to  de- 
vise the  best  plans  for  the  pm-pose  of  extending  tliis  Clim-ch  throughout 
the  land  and  throughout  the  world,  according  to  the  great  commission  of 
our  JMaster.  We  are  in  a  i^eculiarly  serious  position.  Various  committees 
have  reported  to  us.  There  is  a  great  difference  of  opinion  in  this  body 
in  regard  to  a  great  many  of*  the  points  which  tliey  have  recommended. 
Now,  the  question  is.  Is  this  Reunion  to  be  now  the  means  of  awakening 
a  greater  interest  in  these  great  oljjects,  and  of  providing  this  Chmx'h  with 
the  machineiy  and  the  means  that  shall  give  to  them  the  greatest  possible 
success  ? 

We  are,  at  this  time,  about  to  enter  upon  a  great  and  new  sphere  of  ac- 
tion. We  have  a  great  body  which  is  to  be  put  now  in  motion  as  it  has 
never  been  before. 

We  have  four  thousand  ministers,  and  half  a  million  of  memlicrs,  and 
half  a  million  of  children  to  be  educated,  and  a  million  of  adherents  ;  and 
now  the  question  is.  How  sliall  we  best  enter  upon  this  great  work  ?  Our 
Committees  have  all  been  reporting  to  us  from  time  to  time,  and  have  ren- 
dered a  very  important  service.  They  have  provided  for  the  welding  together 
of  the  Church  in  regard  to  these  various  operations,  and  their  plans  have 
been  well  considered.  But  there  have  been  many  ways  proposed  by  which 
to  bring  out  all  the  powers  and  agencies  of  this  great  Church.  Here  and 
there  are  gentlemen  who  feel  that  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that_  the 
eldership  of  the  Church  be  developed  in  this  great  matter.  Xow,  sir,  we 
have  sessions  which  can  operate  in  this  way.    We  have  SjTiods  which  cover 


THE   EECOlSrSTRUCnON".  625 

the  larger  districts,  but  none  of  these  are  brought  into  play  in  this  matter. 
If  you  appoint  committees  in  your  Presbyterie's,  who  shall  take  the  over- 
sight of  these  benevolent  operations  in  the  churches  under  their  care,  and 
then  make  the  Chairmen  of  the  Presbyterial  Committees  in  which  those 
Presbyteries  are,  and  the  Chairmen  of  the  Synodical  Committees  thus  com- 
posed, constitute  the  Boards  of  this  Church,  then  you  will  have  a  machin- 
ery in  operation  that  will  bring  all  this  body  into  play  in  all  its  various 
powers  and  agencies,  so  as  to  accomplish  the  end  you  desire.  And  now 
not  only  will  this  more  conform  to  the  great  principles  which  we  desire  to 
promote  throughout  this  country,  but  we  have  around  us  sister  churches 
in  this  lanJ  who  have  been  making  great  advances  beyond  us  in  regard  to 
this  most  important  matter. 

Hitherto,  our  Boards  and  Committees  have  all  acted  separately,  without 
reference  to  each  other.  There  is  no  combination,  and  yet  you  will  per- 
ceive that  it  would  be  a  very  serious  thing  for  this  Church  to  saddle  itself 
with  all  those  expenses  of  the  machinery,  that  seems  to  a  great  many  of  us 
to  need  a  great  deal  of  harmonizing  in  its  different  parts,  to  make  it  effec 
tive  in  this  great  work  ;  and  therefore  we  propose  that  you  shall  appoint- 
a  committee,  and  bring  all  of  these  rej^orts  together  in  hai-mony,  with  no 
jarring,  and  make  each  one  contribute  to  the  efficiency  of  the  other.  This 
we  feel  to  be  of  the  greatest  possible  importance  in  this  great  work,  as 
these  Boards  are  now  proposed  to  be  constituted.  According  to  the  pres- 
ent arrangement,  no  Board  represents  this  Presbyterian  Chm'ch.  It  does 
not  have  reference  to  all  its  pai-ts,  but  it  is  simply  constituted  of  those  be- 
longing to  a  particular  locality  who  will  be  regarded  as  a  clique  having  no 
particular  knowledge  of  the  vai-ious  parts  of  the  Church,  standing  afar 
off,  and  having  no  knowledge  of  those  churches  that  are  distant, 
and  no  means  of  developing  their  liberality,  and  making  them  efficient  in 
this  great  work.  We  want  to  harmonize  all  these  things.  It  has  been 
suggested  that  some  of  the  Boards  ])e  united  together ;  others  have  sug- 
gested to  combine  all  in  one  treasury,  and  there  are  a  great  many  plans 
and  schemes  upon  this  subject  that  seem  to  call  for  the  special  attention  of 
the  Church. 

These  remarks  had  prepared  the  minds  of  the  mem- 
bers of  Assembly  to  seek  a  more  compact  combination 
of  the  present  plans  for  benevolence,  and  a  resolution 
from  the  Committee  on  the  Finances  of  the  Church 
subsequently  furnished  the  occasion  for  seeming  it. 
This  is  the  resolution  referred  to : 

40 


626  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  General  Assembly,  at  thoir 
next  meeting,  to  apjioint  a^rcasury  Board,  consisting  of  twenty,  composed 
largely  of  business  men  of  standing  and  character,  to  be  divided  into  four 
classes  of  one,  two,  three,  and  four  years,  and  the  Assembly  to  elect  annu- 
ally five  — th3  Board  to  have  charge  of  all  the  funds  annually  contributed 
for  the  benevolent  operations  of  the  Church,  and  to  meet  the  drafts  of  each 
of  the  Boards  for  the  amounts  annually  appropriated  by  the  Assembly,  or 
designated  by  the  donors,  so  far  as  they  have  received  the  money,  and  tc 
report  annually  to  the  Assembly. 

During  tlie  consideration  of  tlie  above,  the  Kev.  Dr. 
C.  C.  Beatty  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
adopted : 

Resolved,  That  so  much  of  the  Report  of  the  Joint  Committee  on 
Finance  as  relates  to  the  permanent  financial  operations  of  the  Church  be 
referred  to  a  select  committee  of  twenty-one,  which  shall  consider  and  re 
commend  to  the  next  Assembly  a  mode  of  carrying  out  the  suggestions  o  f 
the  Joint  Committee  on  this  fii-st  branch  of  their  report ;  and  that,  with  a 
view  to  the  uniform  arrangement  and  administration  of  our  entire  "  benev- 
olent work,"  this  same  committee  of  twenty-one  shall,  if  possible,  recom- 
mend a  plan  for  simplifying  and  consolidating  our  various  operations,  and 
for  enlisting  the  vigorous  and  effective  sympathy  and  co-operation  of  all 
our  Presbyteries  and  all  our  congregations  with  the  Boards  of  the  Church 
as  they  may  be  organized. 

To  this  Committee  of  twenty-one,  the  Moderator, 
the  Rev.  J.  Trumbull  Backus,  D.D.,  was,  by  a  special 
and  unanimous  vote,  added,  and  made  its  Chairman  and 
Convener.  As  the  Church  expands,  and  its  benevolent 
work  grows  commensurately,  our  most  judicious  minds 
may  well  l)e  occupied  in  welding  together  more  and  more 
closely  its  active  agencies,  that  they  may  not  only  be  as 
simple  as  possible  in  their  constitution,  but  by  direct 
communication  mth  pastors  and  churches  call  out  the 
interest  and  sympathies  of  the  entire  body. 

Several  important  matters  were  discussed  and  passed 


V 


-Alk ^.J^ 


THE   EECONSTRUCTION".  627 

upon  by  the  Assembly,  wliicli,  althougli  not  immedi- 
ately essential  to  the  reconstruction  of  the  Church,  yet 
had  a  relation  to  it  too  obvious  to  be  omitted  from 
this  record. 

Early  in  its  sessions  a  movement  was  made  to  open 
a  friendly  correspondence  with  the  "  Southern  Presby- 
terian Church."  With  this  object  the  following  paper, 
offered  by  the  Rev.  William  Adams,  D.D.,  was  unani 
mously  adopted : 

Whereas,  This  General  Assembly,  believing  that  the  interests  of  the 
Kingdom  of  our  Lord  throughout  our  entire  country  will  be  gradually  pro- 
moted by  healing  all  unnecessary  divisions, 

Whereas,  This  General  Assembly  desires  the  speedy  establishment  ol 
cordial  fraternal  relations  witli  the  body  known  as  the  ' '  Southern  Presby- 
terian Church, "  upon  terms  of  mutual  confidence,  respect,  and  Cliristian 
honor  and  love, 

Whereas,  We  believe  that  the  terms  of  Reunion  between  the  two  branches 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  the  North,  now  so  happily  consummated, 
present  an  auspicious  opportunity  for  the  adjustment  of  such  relations  ; 
therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  1.  That  a  Committee  of  five  ministers  and  four  elders  be  ap- 
pointed by  this  Assem])ly  to  confer  with  a  similar  Committee  if  it  shall  be 
appointed  by  the  Assembly  now  in  session  in  the  city  of  Louisville,  in  re- 
spect to  opening  a  friendly  correspondence  between  the  Northern  and 
Southern  Presbyterian  Churches,  and  that  the  result  of  such  conference  be 
reported  to  the  General  Assembly  of  1871. 

Resolved,  2.  That  with  a  view  to  the  furtherance  of  the  object  contem-' 
plated  in  the  appointment  of  said  Committee,  this  Assembly  hereby  reaf- 
firms the  "Concurrent  Declaration"  of  the  two  Assemblies  which  met  in 
the  city  of  New  York  last  year,  viz.  : 

"  That  no  rule  or  precedent  which  does  not  stand  approved  by  both  bod- 
ies shall  be  of  any  authority  in  the  reunited  body,  except  in  so  far  as  such 
rule  or  precedent  may  affect  the  rights  of  property  founded  thereon." 

Resolved,  3.  That  two  Ministers  and  one  Elder  of  this  Committee  ap- 
pointed by  this  Assembly  be  designated  as  delegates  to  convey  to  the  As- 
semlily  now  in  session  at  Louisville,  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  with  oui 
Christian  salutation. 


628  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  resolutions,  a  deputa- 
tion  consisting  of  the  Kev.  Dr.  John  C.  Backus,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Henry  J.  Van  Dyke,  and  Hon.  Wm.  E.  Dodge,  vis- 
ited Louisville,  Ky.,  where  the  Southern  General  As- 
sembly was  in  session.  They  were  received  with  kind- 
ness and  cordiality  by  the  delegates  of  that  Assembly, 
and,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  audience,  explained  their 
mission.  While  they  were  speaking,  the  breathless  in- 
terest and  deep  emotion  of  their  hearers  gave  good 
hope  of  the  success  of  their  efforts,  and,  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  their  remarks,  many  took  them  by  the  hand 
and  thanked  them  for  coming. 

To  the  regret,  however,  of  the  Assembly,  the  Com- 
mittee charged  with  preparing  a  response  to  its  peaceful 
overtures  sent  the  following  paper : 

Louisville,  Ky.,  IMay  28th,  1870. 

Eev.  E.  F.  Hatfield,  B.J).,  Stated   Cleric  of  the  General  AssemUy  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 

Dear  Brother  :  —  The  "General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States,"  in  session  at  Louisville,  has  directed  me  to  forward 
to  you  the  following  official  document.  It  is  a  true  extract  from  the  Min- 
utes of  Friday,  May  the  27th. 

The  Committee  on  Foreign  Correspondence,  to  whom  was  referred  the 
overture  for  reunion  from  the  Old  School  General  Asseml^ly,  North,  of  1869, 
at  its  sessions  in  the  city  of  New  York ;  and  also  the  proposition  from  the 
United  Assembly  of  the  Northern  Presbyterian  Church,  now  sitting  in 
Philadelphia,  conveyed  to  us  by  a  special  delegation,  respectfully  report : 

That  the  former  of  these  documents  is  virtually  superseded  by  the  lat- 
ter ;  because  the  body  by  whom  it  was  adopted  has  since  been  merged 
into  the  United  Assembly,  from  which  emanates  a  new  and  fresh  propo- 
sal reflecting  the  views  of  the  larger  constituency.  To  this  proposition, 
then,  "that  a  committee  of  five  ministers  and  four  elders  be  appointed  by 
this  Assembly,  to  confer  with  a  similar  Committee  of  their  Assembly  in 
respect  to  opening  a  friendly  correspondence  between  the  Northern  and 


THE    EECONSTKUCTION.  629 

Southern  Presbyterian  Cbui-cli "  —  your  Committee  recommend  tlie  follow- 
ing answer  to  be  returned : 

Whatever  obstructions  may  exist  in  the  way  of  cordial  intercourse  be- 
tween the  two  bodies  above  named,  are  entkely  of  a  public  nature,  and 
involve  grave  and  fundamental  princii^les.  The  Southern  Presbyterian 
Church  can  confidently  appeal  to  all  the  acts  and  declarations  of  all  their 
Assemblies,  that  no  attitude  of  aggression  or  hostility  has  been  or  is  now 
assumed  by  it  towards  the  Northern  Churcli.  And  this  General  Assembly 
distinctly  avows  (as  it  has  always  Iselieved  and  declared)  that  no  grievan- 
ces experienced  by  us,  however  real,  would  justify  us  in  acts  of  aggression 
or  a  spirit  of  malice  or  retaliation  against  any  branch  of  Christ's  visible 
kingdom.  We  are  prepared,  therefore,  in  advance  of  all  discussion,  to  ex- 
ercise towards  the  General  Assembly,  North,  and  the  chm-ches  represented 
therein,  such  amity  as  fidelity  to  our  principles  could  under  any  possible 
circumstances  permit.  Under  this  view  the  appointment  of  a  Committee 
of  Conference  might  seem  wholly  unnecessary ;  but,  in  order  to  exhibit 
before  the  Chi-istian  world  the  spirit  of  conciliation  and  kindness  to  the 
last  degree,  this  Assembly  agrees  to  appoint  a  Committee  of  Conference 
to  meet  a  similar  Committee  already  ajipointed  by  the  Northern  Assembly, 
with  instructions  to  the  same  that  the  difiiculties  which  lie  in  the  way  of 
cordial  con'espondcnce  between  the  two  bodies  must  be  distinctly  met  and 
removed,  and  which  may  be  comprehensively  stated  in  the  following  par- 
ticulars : 

1.  Both  the  wings  of  the  now  United  Assembly,  duiing  theh  separate 
existence  before  the  fusion,  did  fatally  complicate  themselves  with  the 
State,  in  political  utterances  deliberately  uttered  year  after  year;  and 
which,  in  our  judgment,  were  a  sad  betrayal  of  the  cause  and  kingdom  of 
our  common  Lord  and  Head.  We  believe  it  to  be  solely  incumbent  upon 
the  Northern  Presbyterian  Church,  not  vsdth  reference  to  us,  but  before  the 
Christian  world,  and  before  om*  Divine  Master  and  King,  to  pm-ge  itself  of 
this  error,  and  by  public  proclamation  of  the  truth  to  place  the  crown  once 
more  upon  the  head  of  Jesus  Clu-ist  as  the  alona  King  of  Zion.  In  de- 
fault of  which,  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Church,  which  has  already  suf- 
fered much  in  maintaining  the  independence  and  spirituality  of  the  Re- 
deemer's kingdom  upon  earth,  feels  constrained  to  bear  public  testunony 
against  this  defection  of  our  late  associates  from  the  tmth.  Nor  can  we, 
by  ofiicial  corresi^ondence  even,  consent  to  blunt  the  edge  of  this,  our  tes- 
timony concerning  the  very  nature  and  mission  of  the  Church  as  a  i^vnely 
spmtual  body  among  men. 

2.  The  union  now  consummated  between  the  Old  and  New  School  As- 
Bemblies,  North,  was  accomijlished  by  methods  which,  in  our  judgment, 


630  PKESBYTEKIAN    CUUliCH. 

involve  a  total  surrender  of  all  the  great  testimonies  of  the  Ciiurch  for  the 
fundamental  doctrines  of  grace  at  a  time  when  the  victory  of  truth  over 
error  hung  long  in  the  balance.  The  United  Assembly  stands  of  necessity 
upon  an  allowed  latitude  of  interpretation  of  the  standards,  and  must 
come  at  length  to  embrace  nearly  all  shades  of  doctrinal  belief.  Of  those 
falling  testimonies  we  are  the  sole  surviving  heirs,  which  we  must  lift 
from  the  dust,  and  bear  to  the  generations  after  us.  It  would  be  a  serious 
comi^romise  of  this  sacred  trust  to  enter  into  public  and  official  fellowship 
with  those  repudiating  these  testimonies ;  and  to  do  tliis  expressly  upon 
the  ground,  as  stated  in  the  preamble  to  the  overture  before  us,  ' '  that  the 
terms  of  reunion  between  the  two  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Clim-ch  at 
the  North,  now  happily  consummated,  present  an  auspicious  opportunity 
for  the  adjustment  of  such  relations"  — to  found  a  con-esi)ondence  pro- 
fessedly upon  this  idea  would  be  to  endorse  that  which  we  thoroughly 
disapi^rove. 

3.  Some  of  the  members  of  our  ovm  body  were,  but  a  short  time  since, 
violently  and  imconstitutionally  expelled  from  the  communion  of  one 
branch  of  the  now  United  Northern  Assembly,  under  ecclesiastical  charges 
which,  if  true,  render  them  utterly  infamous  before  the  Church  and  the 
world.  It  is  to  the  last  degree  unsatisfactory  to  construe  this  offensive 
legislation  obsolete  by  the  mere  fusion  of  that  body  with  another,  or  thi'ough 
the  operation  of  a  faint  declaration  which  was  not  intended,  originally,  to 
cover  this  case.  This  is  no  mere  "rule"  or  "precedent,"  but  a  solemn 
sentence  of  outlawry  against  what  is  now  an  important  and  constituent 
part  of  our  own  body.  Every  principle  of  honor  and  of  good  faith  com- 
pels us  to  say  that  an  unequivocal  repudiation  of  that  interpretation  of  the 
law  under  which  these  men  were  condemned,  must  be  a  condition  prece- 
dent to  any  official  correspondence  on  om-  part. 

4.  It  is  well  knowTi  that  similar  injurious  accusations  were  preferred 
against  the  whole  Southern  Presbyterian  Church,  Avith  which  the  ear  of 
the  whole  world  has  been  filled.  Extending,  as  these  charges  do,  to  heresy 
and  blasphemy,  they  cannot  be  quietly  ignored  by  an  indirection  of  any 
sort.  If  true,  we  are  not  worthy  of  the  "  confidence,  respect,  Chiisti  an 
honor  and  love "  which  are  tendered  to  us  in  tliis  oveiture ;  if  untrue, 
Chi-istian  manliness  and  truth  require  them  to  be  openly  and  squarely 
witlidi'awn.  So  long  as  they  remain  upon  record  they  are  an  impassable 
barrier  to  official  intercourse. 

Yours  fraternally, 

Joseph  E.  Wilson, 

Stated  Clerk  of  tlie  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 

Church  in  the  United  States. 


THE    RECONSTRUCTION^.  631 

To  this  letter  a  reply  was  adopted  by  the  Assembly 
in  terms  as  follows : 

Whereas,  This  General  Assembly,  at  an  early  period  of  its  sessions,  de- 
clared its  desire  to  establish  cordial,  fraternal  relations  with  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Chui'ch  in  the  U.  S. ,  commonly  known  as 
the  Southern  Assembly,  upon  the  basis  of  Chi-istian  honor,  confidence,  and 
love ;  and  with  a  view  to  the  attainment  of  this  end,  appointed  a  commit- 
tee of  five  ministers  and  four  elders,  to  confer  with  a  similar  committee, 
if  it  should  be  appointed  by  the  Assembly  then  in  session  at  Louisville, 
"in  regard  to  the  amicable  settlement  of  all  existing  difiiculties,  and  the 
opening  of  a  friendly  correspondence  between  the  Northern  and  Southern 
churches,"  and  for  the  furtherance  of  the  objects  contemplated  in  the  aji- 
pointment  of  said  committee,  and  with  a  view  to  remove  the  obstacles 
which  might  prevent  the  acceptance  of  our  proposals  by  our  Southern 
brethi'en,  reafiii'med  the  concurrent  declaration  of  the  two  Assemblies 
which  met  in  New  York  last  year,  to  the  effect  that  "  no  rule  or  precedent 
which  does  not  stand  approved  by  both  the  bodies  shall  be  of  any  author- 
ity in  the  re-united  body,  except  so  far  as  such  rule  or  precedent  may  af- 
fect the  rights  of  property  founded  thereon  ;  "  and  as  a  further  pledge  of 
our  sincerity  in  this  movement,  sent  a  copy  of  our  resolutions,  together  with 
our  Chi-istian  salutation,  to  the  Assembly  at  Louisville,  by  the  hands  of 
delegates  chosen  for  that  purpose. 

And  whereas,  the  Southern  Assembly,  while  receiving  our  delegates  with 
marked  courtesy,  and  formally  complying  with  our  projaosition  for  the 
appointment  of  a  committee  of  conference,  has  nevertheless  accompanied 
that  appointment  with  declarations  and  conditions  wliicli  we  cannot  con- 
sistently accept,  because  they  involve  a  virtual  pre-judgment  of  the  very 
difficulties  concerning  wliich  we  invited  the  conference.     Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  further  consideration  of  the  subject  be  postponed 
and  the  committee  be  discharged.  At  the  same  time  we  cannot  forbear 
to  express  our  profound  regret,  that  a  measure  designed  and,  as  we  believe, 
eminently  fitted  to  promote  the  establishment  of  peace  and  the  advance- 
ment of  our  Redeemer's  kingdom  in  every  part  of  our  country,  has  appar- 
ently failed  to  accomplish  its  object.  We  earnestly  hope  that  the  nego- 
tiations thus  suspended  may  soon  be  resumed  under  happier  auspices,  and 
hereljy  declare  our  readiness  to  renew  our  proposal  for  a  friendly  corre- 
spondence whenever  our  Soutlieni  Ijrethren  shall  signify  then-  readiness  to 
accept  it  in  the  form  and  spii-it  in  wliich  it  has  been  offered. 


632 


PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


On  motion  of  the  Rev.  George  L.  Prentiss,  D.J).,  a 
committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  consider  the  perils 
which  beset  the  system  of  popular  education  in  this 
country,  and  to  prepare  a  minute  expressing  upon  the 
question  the  sentiment  of  the  General  Assembly.  Sub- 
sequently, as  the  chaiiman  of  this  committee.  Dr.  Pren- 
tiss offered  a  very  satisfactory  report,  which  was  unani- 
mously adopted. 


H.  R.  Wilson,  D.D. 


W.  M.  Francis. 


Henry  Day. 


THE    RECONSTEUCTIOlsr. 


633 


It  was  to  be  expected  that,  ^vitll  the  zeal  and  enthu- 
siasm that  filled  this  Assembly,  it  would  endeavor 
actively  to  carry  out  the  plans  inaugurated  by  its  pre- 
decessors for  raising  a  Memorial  Fund  of  Five  Millions 
of  Dollars,  as  a  special  thank-offering  to  the  treasury  of 
the  Lord.  After  sufficient  deliberation,  a  Committee 
was  appointed  to  raise  the  amount. 


Daniel  Haines. 


WilUam  E.  Dodcrc 


This  Committee  was  instructed  to  prej)are  and  for- 
ward to  each  congregation,  through  the  pastor,  stated 
supply,  or  session,  to  be  laid  before  each  member  of  the 
congregation,  a  clear,  distinct,  and  minute  plan  for  sub- 
scribing, reporting,  collecting,  and  forwarding  the 
amounts  contrilmted  to  this  fund,  and  also  to  prepare 
and  send  suitable  Ijlanhs  for  these  pmposes. 

The  Assembly  also  instructed  the  Presbyteries  and 
Synods,  at  their  Fall  meetings,  to  make  careful  inquiry 
of  each  pastor  and  elder,  and  know  if  these  subscriptions 
have  been  presented  to  the  individuals  of  all  oiu*  congi-e- 
gations,  and  in  cases  of  failure,  to  take  such  measm-es 
as  may  best  secure  this  residt. 


634  PllESBYTElilAN    CUUllCU. 

Institutions  were  also  designated  by  the  Assembly, 
to  which,  if  contributions  are  given,  these  may  be 
counted  as  included  in  the  Memorial  Fimd,  namely : 

I.  Theological  seminaries,  and  colleges,  and  seminaries  for  the  edu- 
cation of  our  daughters,  including  buildings  and  endowments  of  tlic 
same,  it  being  understood  that  such  institutions  shall  be  chartered,  and 
shall  be  in  connection  with  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

n.  Literary  institutions  for  the  raising  of  a  native  Gospel  ministry  in 
heathen  lands. 

in.  Church  buildings  and  manses  originating  subsequently  to  the  imion, 
dud  otherwise  entitled  to  public  aid ;  hospitals  and  oqjhan  asylvmis  in 
connection  with  the  Church. 

IV.  Institutions  for  the  education  and  evangelization  of  the  Freedmen. 

V.  Special  contril^utions  for  the  establishment  of  a  Permanent  Susten- 
tation  Fund,  which  shall  include  appropriations  for  the  support  of  disabled 
ministers  and  their  families. 

A  committee,  appointed  by  the  last  Old  School  As- 
sembly, to  consider  upon  the  allowance  of  the  Heidel- 
berg Catechism  in  the  churches,  presented  a  report 
which  was  unanimously  adopted.  The  resolutions  at 
its  close,  thus  made  the  action  of  the  Assembly  of  1870, 
are  the  following : 

1.  Resolved,  That  this  General  Assembly  recognizes  in  the  Heidelberg 
Catechism  a  valuable  Scriptural  compendium  of  Chi-istian  doctiine  and 
duty. 

2.  Resolved,  That  if  any  churches  desire  to  employ  the  Heidelberg  Cat- 
echism in  the  instruction  of  then-  childi'cn,  they  may  do  so  -with  the  appro- 
bation of  this  Assemljly. 

3.  Resolved,  That  this  Asseml^ly  cordially  rejoices  at  the  continued  smd 
increasing  c^ddences  of  agreement  and  of  imion  among  those  whose  sym- 
bols maintain  in  common  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints. 

Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  remarkable  kindness 
and  generosity  with  which  the  members  of  the  various 
congregations  of  Philadelphia  entertained  the  Assembly. 
Besides  numerous  private  receptions,  and  a  constant  ex- 


THE    EECONSTEUCTION.  635 

hibition  of  hospitality  on  the  part  of  the  families  of 
both  ministers  and  laymen,  the  Social  Reunion  of 
Thui'sday  evening,  May  2Gth,  deserves  a  grateful  com- 
memoration. That  all  the  members  of  the  Assembly, 
with  their  kind  hosts,  and  very  many  distinguished  men 
in  attendance  upon  the  sessions  of  the  body  might 
meet  together  most  pleasantly,  the  Academy  of  Music 
was  selected,  as  affording  very  great  facilities  for  such 
a  gathering.  This  spacious  building  was  beautifully 
decorated  with  flowers,  while  a  multitude  of  sino^insr 
birds  were  so  arranged  as  to  fill  the  air  with  their 
cheering  melody.  A  motto  of  welcome  was  placed  in 
a  conspicuous  position:  "The  Church  which  is  in 
Philadelphia  Saluteth  You."  A  large  committee  of  la- 
dies and  gentlemen  had  made  such  ample  provision  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  great  com]3any  that  were  assem- 
bled at  this  most  agreeable  reunion,  that  none  were  in- 
commoded, and  all  enjoyed  it  to  the  fulL  In  one  por- 
tion of  the  building,  short  addi-esses  from  eloquent  men, 
some  of  them  from  other  lands,  attracted  an  applauding 
coucoui'se.  In  other  parts,  groups  were  collected  for 
conversation  and  the  interchange  of  joyful  congratula- 
tions over  the  happy  progress  of  the  Chm'ch's  jjeaceful 
work  And  in  a  spacious  hall,  with  convenient  ingress 
and  egress,  others  were  enjoying  a  repast  comprising 
in  bountiful  profusion  the  choicest  viands,  sufiicing  for 
all  the  great  com]3any  thus  collected.  On  a  subsequent 
evening  the  Oratorio  of  the  Messiah  was  rendered  in 
the  same  building,  at  the  expense  of  the  citizens  of 
Philadeljohia,  in  honor  of  the  Assembly.  These  l)rief 
references  but  imperfectly  describe  most  successful  i)ublic 
exhibitions  of  the  deep  and  cordial  interest  which  evi- 


C^i^6  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

dently  existed  in  all  the  churches  and  congregations  of 
Philadeli^hia  mth  regard  to  this  General  Assembly,  per- 
mitted, in  God's  Providence,  to  consummate  the  work 
of  Eeunion,  and  to  provide  for  the  future  progress  of 
Christ's  kinordom. 

In  raj)idly  reviewing  the  j^rocess  of  Reconstruction, 
as  aided  by  the  members  of  the  Assembly  of  1870,  we 
cannot  fail  to  be  impressed  with  the  j)romptness  of 
their  action,  as  well  as  with  its  satisfactory  results. 
Every  duplicate  Board  or  Permanent  Committee  was 
combined  upon  principles  somewhat  similar,  it  is  true, 
but  yet  by  methods  greatly  varying  with  the  peculiar 
circumstances  of  each  case.  Here  one  is  called  by  the 
name  of  the  organization  as  known  to  the  Old  School ; 
here  another  receives  the  title  formerly  employed  by 
the  New  SclTool.  One  results  from  the  fusing  together 
of  both  the  former  agencies ;  in  the  case  of  others,  a 
choice  is  made  of  that  which,  by  reason  of  its  better 
charter  or  more  perfect  plan,  promises  to  do  the  most 
good.  And,  as  in  the  Assembly  itself  these  results 
were  reached  mth  no  excited  discussion  or  unfiiendly 
ardor,  but  in  the  exercise  of  Christian  courtesy  and 
with  an  evident  desire  to  seek  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  welfare  of  souls,  so  have  the  tidings  of  what  was 
efEected  been  received  through  the  chui'ches.  On  eveiy 
hand  we  hear  expressions  of  gratification  and  thankfid- 
ness  with  reference  to  the  work  so  far  completed  with- 
out any  rivalries  or  jealousies  or  complaints. 

The  history  of  ecclesiastical  bodies  may  well  be 
challenged  to  present  any  parallel  to  the  wonderful 
readiness  with  which  the  entire  Chui'ch  now  adapts 
itself   to  the   new  ordering   of   all   its   plans  as   thus 


THE    EECOiS^STRUCTION.  637 

arranged.  Private  oj^inions  and  interests  have  been 
subordinated  to  the  common  judgment  and  the  general 
welfare.  Under  the  evident  superintendence  of  God's 
Holy  Spirit  and  the  plain  direction  of  God's  Provi- 
dence, radical  changes  have  taken  place.  But  these, 
subjected  to  the  tests  of  combined  wisdom  and  experi- 
ence, as  gained  by  both  the  former  branches  of  the 
Church,  are  cordially  accepted  by  all.  There  appear 
to  be  no  parties,  no  dissatisfied  minorities,  no  unwilling 
protesters.  "With  happy  hearts  and  devout  thanksgiv- 
ings, Judah  and  Ej^hraim  and  Levi  and  Benjamin  and 
all  the  other  tribes  merge  their  distinctive  names  and 
their  separate  plans  in  their  sincere  affection  for  the 
united  Israel  into  which,  as  one,  they  flow  together. 

And  now  some  may  ask.  What  further  is  needed  to 
finish  the  work  of  Peconstruction  so  happily  begun? 
In  one  sense,  but  little  more,  since  the  foundations  are 
carefully  selected,  well  laid,  and  strongly  cemented. 
In  another  sense,  much  more,  since  upon  these  noble 
foundations  there  must  be  erected  a  structure  vast  and 
enduring. 

In  indicating  briefly  the  following  portions  of  the  yet 
uncompleted  task,  they  are  referred  to  because  now 
occupying  the  attention  of  our  thinking  and  progressive 
minds  in  various  parts  of  the  Chm-ch.  Some  of  them 
are  veiy  generally  deemed  desirable,  others  require  yet 
to  be  more  thoroughly  elaborated  and  matured.  If 
adopted  by  the  Church,  time  and  use  must  prove  their 
value  or  reveal  their  defects.  Few,  however,  will  deny 
that  the  present  is  an  auspicious  period  in  which  to 
increase  the  efiiciency  of  our  system  and  to  adapt  its 
methods  more  perfectly  to  the  demands  of  our  counti-y 


638  PRESBYTKRIATq-    CHUECH. 

and  the  world.  It  furnishes  an  occasion  such  as  sel- 
dom can  occur  in  the  history  of  any  communion,  to 
make  needed  changes  and  to  secure  desirable  reforms. 
It  is  a  grand  opportunity,  a  transition  epoch,  when  the 
wisdom  and  experience  of  the  past  may  guide  us  so 
that,  holding  fast  to  all  that  is  i-eally  valuable  in  our 
traditional  methods,  we  may  also  incorporate  uj)on  our 
system  whatever  the  sound  judgment  and  the  ripe 
reflection  of  our  most  judicious  leaders  endorse  and 
approve  of  as  requisite  for  the  enlargc'd  and  increasing 
usefulness  of  the  Chm'ch. 

Our  Presbyterian  Homes  in  the  great  cities  east  and 
west  are  yet  to  be  built.  A  Psalmody  adequate  to  the 
wants  of  this  wide-spread  Zion  is  to  be  selected  and 
prepared.  A  Manse  is  not  yet  found  in  every  congre- 
gation. Some  Sustentation  plan  remains  to  be  sug- 
gested, that  the  Church,  from  the  overflow  of  congrega- 
tions whose  concentrated  wealth  suffers  a  very  trifling 
di'aft  when  fi'om  it  but  one  ministry  is  sustained,  may 
pour  forth  to  the  aid  of  feebler  folds  enough  to  save 
them  fi'om  the  sorrow  or  reproach  of  awarding  to  faith- 
ful pastors  a  scandalous  maintenance.  Some  method 
must  be  devised  by  which  the  humbler  and  middling 
classes  in  cities  and  to\\Tis  shall  be  more  generally 
attracted  to  God's  altars,  that  rich  and  poor  may  there 
meet  together.  A  multitude  of  churches  and  mission 
chaj)els  need  to  be  built  in  our  crowded  centres  of  pop- 
ulation, and  at  frontier  points  that  will  soon  become 
such  centres.  The  relations  of  the  Church  to  popular 
education,  and  its  responsibilities  in  training  all  chil- 
dren and  youth  are  to  be  more  clearly  defined.  Our 
Christian  women,  the  deaconesses  of   primitive  times. 


TiiE  keconstiiuctio:n".  639 

and  in  every  age  numei'ically,  and  by  reason  of  their 
great  capabilities  for  extensive  usefulness,  an  invaluable 
band  of  helpers,  a^vait  the  disposal  of  the  Church,  say- 
ing, "  Here  we  are ;  send  us."  A  host  of  unordained 
servants  of  Christ,  laymen,  it  is  true,  yet  gifted  and 
educated,  are  ready  to  go  every^vhere  preaching  the 
Word  in  the  shop,  at  the  mai'ket,  on  the  railway,  from 
house  to  house,  through  the  secular  Aveek,  and  on  the 
Sabbath  day  in  halls,  parks,  or  streets,  desiring  to  be 
told  how  they  may  perfoiTU  this  function  decently  and 
in  order.  Chairs  for  the  insti*uction  of  missionaries  in 
foreign  and  especially  Eastern  languages  are  yet  to  be 
endowed,  that  eveiy  man  may  speedily  hear  in  his  o"\vn 
tongue  the  wonderful  works  of  God,  and  another  stu- 
pendous Pentecost  of  conversions  follow.  Such  prepar- 
atoiy  steps  are  awaited  as  may  draw  other  kindred 
chm'ches  to  ours,  or  ours  to  them,  as  far  as  God  intends 
organic  union  or  fraternal  correspondence  between 
these.  His  witnesses.  Some  old  measures  must  be  re- 
vived, or  new  plans  secured  that  may  bring  with  increas- 
ing numbers  the  baptized  members  of  the  Saviom^'s  fold 
to  assume  every  duty  of  a  religious  life,  until  all  the 
Chui'ch's  children  be  taught  of  God,  and  great  be  the 
peace  of  her  children.  The  session  must  be  restored  to 
its  ancient  efficiency,  and  its  elders  become  more 
thoroughly  the  helps  they  were  ordained  to  be,  with  a 
Scriptural  and  settled  plan  by  which  the  efficient  may 
be  retained,  and,  ruling  well,  have  double  honor;  while 
the  inefficient,  and  such  as  experience  declares  cannot 
serve  to  edification,  may  retire  from  the  active  exercise 
of  the  office.  Unemployed  ministers  must,  by  some 
well-ordered  and   perpetuated  means,  be  set  at  work, 


640  PEESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

and  vacancies  be  constantly  supplied.  The  aiTange- 
ments  for  a  Memorial  Fund  and  kindi'ed  scliemes  must 
develop  a  system  by  wliicli  every  son  and  daughter  of 
the  Lord's  house  shall  habitually,  upon  the  first  day  oi 
the  week,  lay  by  in  store  an  offering  as  God  hath  pros- 
pered them.  A  return  to  what  is  regarded  by  them  as 
the  New  Testament  use  of  the  diaconate  is  by  some  de- 
manded, who  desire  that  the  deacons  may  be  more 
numerous  and  more  fully  employed,  and  that  those  who 
are  of  Israel  may  direct  the  Church's  temporalities, 
according  to  the  dictates  of  consciences  instructed  by 
the  Holy  Oracles  and  sanctified  by  the  Holy  Spii'it. 

But  we  may  not  longer  dwell  upon  these  things, 
which  are  suggested  in  various  quarters,  and  which 
many  hope  for  as  yet  to  result  from  the  full  Eecon- 
struction  of  our  beloved  Church.  To  her  futm^e  his- 
tory and  destiny  the  eye  of  faith  may  well  look  for- 
ward with  glad  and  prayerful  anticipations."'  How 
auspicious  the  beginnings  of  her  prosperity !  How 
solemn  the  responsibilities  of  those  who  now  in  God's 
Providence  have  committed  to  them  this  precious  ark 
to  bear  forward  !  Truly  there  is  much  land  to  be  pos- 
sessed. Most  of  all  gifts,  do  we  not  need  individual 
piety,  personal  holiness,  the  entire  consecration  each  of 
his  one  soul  to  Clirist  ?  Let  but  eveiy  heart  be  fired 
with  love  to  Jesus,  every  closet  be  "witness  to  new  and 
more  solemn  devotion,  each  family  altar  blaze  "mth 
a  more  constant  and  holy  sacrifice,  each  pulpit  and  pew 
be  filled  by  those  who  are  absolutely  dedicated  to  the 
ser-dce  of  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  our  souls,  and 
His  voice  will  send  to  us  its  sweet,  assuiiug  prom- 
ise, "  My  presence  shall  go  with  thee,  and  I  will 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

THE    FUTURE    CHUECH. 


Jolin  L.  Knight.  J.  S.  Farrand. 


When  tlie  English  and  the  Prussians,  under  Welling- 
ton and  Blucher,  effected  a  junction  on  the  18th  of  June, 
1815,  on  the  field  of  Waterloo,  it  was  not  that  they 
might  enjoy  the  parade  and  pomp  of  a  mighty  host,  or 
luxuriate  in  the  gladness  which  led  the  old  Prussian,  after 
the  manner  of  his  country,  to  embrace  and  hug  the  \dc- 
torious  Englishman ;  but  to  continue  the  work  in  which 
they  had  been  engaged  —  to  drive  a  military  despotism 
out  of  France,  and  to  restore  to  Europe  the  blessings  of 
an  assured  peace. 

And  when  two  great  sections  of  the  Lord's  sacramen- 
tal host  fell  into  one  line  in  Pittsburg,  it  was  not  for  the 
satisfaction  of  exulting  in  the  sense  of  greatness,  or  in- 
dulging in  mutual  gratulations,  but  for  the  pm-pose  of 


642  PEESBYTERIAN   CHUECH. 

pushing  Cliristian  effort  witli  more  vigor,  of  concen- 
trating strength,  and  bringing  the  land  under  the  Sav- 
iour's peaceful  sceptre.  The  sympathy  of  numbers  is  in- 
deed a  valuable  power,  and  the  joy  of  enlarging  commu- 
nion on  earth  a  precious  fruit  of  the  Spirit.  But  they 
are  not  to  be  rested  in  as  an  end,  but  employed  as  means. 
We  are  to  be  more  sanguine  because  we  are  one ;  for 
the  Spirit  that  has  put  aside  the  bamers  to  union,  and 
made  us  one,  may  well  be  counted  upon  to  carry  us^ 
over  other  difficulties.  If,  however,  flushed  with  a  sense 
of  strength  and  success,  we  rely  on  visible  resources,  and 
yield  ourselves  up  to  mere  carnal  exultation,  we  shall  be 
certainly  visited  with  God's  displeasure,  and  with  de- 
served humiliation.  But  if  we  feel  our  dependence  on 
Divine  aid,  give  God  gloiy  for  the  great  things  he  has 
done  for  us,  and  address  ourselves  in  a  right  spirit  to  the 
work  of  a  Chui'ch  of  Chi'ist  in  this  land,  we  shall  see 
enough  in  ourselves,  and  in  the  desolation  around  us, 
to  emphasize  the  caution  to  the  angel  of  the  Chm-ch  at 
Sardis,  "Be  watchful,  and  strengthen  the  things  that 
remain,  that  are  ready  to  die." — Eev.  iii.  2. 

The  measure  of  the  strength  of  a  machine  is  the 
strength  of  its  weakest  part.  It  is  prudent  for  a  be- 
sieged city  to  look  to  its  defences  where  the  line  is  most 
easily  penetrable.  And  it  is  wise  for  a  church  to  make 
good  any  position  which  it  is  right  to  hold,  preparatory 
to  successful  aggressive  effort.  There  is  a  charm  about 
a  new  thing  to  many  minds.  It  is  all  too  common  to 
quit  the  old  spheres  and  relieve  the  monotony  of  labor 
by  seeking  fresh  fields  of  exertion.  The  lines  may  thus 
be  widely  extended  without  any  absolute  gain.  To 
cultivate  a  country  is  not  to  rush  across  it,  here  bui'ning 


THE   FUTUEE   CHUECH.  643 

a  wood,  and  there  making  a  corduroy  road  over  a 
swamp.  When  men  steadily,  persistently,  and  on  a 
definite  plan,  sit  down  on  the  land,  root  out  its  trees, 
fence  it  in,  and  cultivate  it,  till  its  valleys  ai*e  cov 
eredwith  corn  and  its  hills  with  cattle,  they  are  really 
ruling  over  and  subduing  it.  And  on  such  a  com'se, 
though  less  striking  to  the  imagination  than  the  move- 
ment that  sweeps  along  like  a  prairie-fire,  ought  the 
Pi'esbyterian  Church  to  enter  if  she  is  to  win  in  years  to 
come  the  Master's  commendation,  "  I  know  thy  works, 
and  charity,  and  service,  and  faith,  and  thy  patience, 
and  thy  works;  and  the  last  to  be  more  than  the 
first."— Eev.  ii.  19. 

The  cities  of  America  are  permitted  to  exercise  an 
immense  influence.  The  agricultural  districts  of  every 
country  are  slower  in  movement  than  the  cities.  From 
great  cities  smaller  towns  take  their  cue ;  fi'om  these, 
again,  the  villages ;  and  from  the  villages  the  pui-ely 
rural  population.  What  an  immense  power  is  radiat- 
ing from  New  York,  Boston,  Philadelphia,  Chicago,  and 
many  other  centres  only  distinguished  fi'om  these  by 
their  areas  of  influence  beinoj  less  extended.  It  ouo-ht  to 
be  among  the  first  objects  of  the  united  Chm'ch  to 
strengthen  itself  in  the  great  cities.  Apostolic  ]3ractice, 
the  later  history  of  the  Church,  the  deductions  of  com- 
mon sense,  and  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  America, 
all  point  to  this.  If  we  be  strong  in  the  cities,  we  shall 
be  strong  in  the  land.  If  we  be  feeble  where  people 
most  do  congregate,  whei'e  mind  is  most  active  and  vig- 
orous, where  thought  is  soonest  and  most  loudly  uttered, 
we  must  resign  into  other  and  abler  hands  the  work  of 
evangelizing    the  land.      The  Chm-ch  that   holds  the 


644  PRESBYTERIAN-    CIIUECH. 

great  cities  will  control  the  religious  cliaracter  of  tLe 
country. 

In  some  of  these,  our  Churcli  is  already  strong,  rela- 
tively. In  some  she  is  almost  unkno-vyn.  And  in  some 
she  must  be  content  to  remain  unknown.  To  expect 
missionary  effort  to  be  made  from  without  for  setting 
up  Presbyterianism  in  New  England  towns,  for  exam- 
ple, is  in  the  highest  degree  absurd.  There  are  certain 
laws  of  life  which  must  be  respected  in  the  growth  of 
churches,  as  in  the  growth  of  any  societies  composed  of 
human  beings,  and  which  you  cannot  control  by  any  forc- 
ing agency  with  advantage.  A  congregation  "  got  up  "  in 
a  place  by  external  zeal  is  usually  a  poor,  sickly,  hot- 
house plant,  di'ooping  under  every  unfavorable  change. 
''  Behold,  I  am  at  the  point  to  die,"  is  its  frequent  cry, 
"  and  what  profit  shall  this  birthright  do  to  me  ?  "  There 
is  no  wisdom  in  forwardins^  these  artificial  "  erections." 
But  when  the  people  of  a  locality,  looking  around,  and 
seeing  how  well  a  system  works  elsewhere,  set  up 
among  themselves  an  organization,  and  maintain  it  as 
a  thing  of  their  own,  there  is  hope ;  for  there  is  natural 
and  healthy  growth.  The  plant  is  I'acy  of  the  soil.  It 
does  not  need  the  nursing  demanded  by  an  exotic.  It 
has  not  to  overcome  the  prejudice  with  which  an  intru- 
sive stranger  is  apt  to  be  regarded.  Its  existence  is  its 
justification.  Its  progress  is  an  argument  for  sympathy, 
and  its  success  is  a  plea  for  a  second  like  unto  it.  And 
so  the  work  of  healthy  and  useful  church  extension  ad- 
vances. 

But  how  are  our  existing  possessions  to  acquire  that 
attractive  appearance  ? 

1.  In  many  places  there  is  need  for  wise  amalgama- 


THE    FUTURE    CHUECH.  645 

tion.  Of  what  use  can  it  be  to  maintain  two  feeble 
cliurclies  in  a  district  wliicli  has  seen  its  best  clays,  when 
one  would  serve  all  the  objects  of  a  church  ?  Union 
would  set  one  man  free  for  ministerial  work  elsewhere, 
and  would  secure  employment  and  adequate  mainte- 
nance for  the  other.  That  there  is  a  second  building  is 
of  no  real  consequence.  Buildings  and  organizations 
are  for  men,  not  men  for  them.  There  is  no  indelibility 
about  the  sanctity  of  a  church  edifice ;  when  it  ceases 
to  be  what  it  was  intended,  its  work  is  done.  No  mer 
cantile  firm  that  could  move  would  remain  in  a  region 
from  which  trade  had  disappeared  simply  because  they 
owned  a  house.  And  the  children  of  light  ought  to  be 
no  less  wise  than  the  children  of  this  world. 

2.  There  has  been  some  waste  of  power  in  many  of  oui- 
cities  and  towns  from  the  misplacing  of  congregations 
and  mission  stations.  Sometimes  this  arose  from  the 
ignorance  which  comes  from  want  of  concert  and  con- 
sultation. Sometimes,  one  fears,  there  was  too  much 
eagerness  to  push  denominational  interests  to  permit 
dispassionate  examination  of  collateral  questions.  It 
would  be  easy  enough  to  have  Presbyteries  sm-vey  the 
cities  and  towns  within  their  bounds,  and  so  far  as  new 
churches  and  mission  stations  are  concerned,  distribute 
their  resources  to  the  utmost  advantage,  so  as  to  secure 
as  near  an  approach  as  possible  to  the  territorial  sys- 
tem. To  give  to  each  congregation  that  imdertakes 
aggressive  work  a  definite  district  for  which,  in 
Christian  honor,  it  should  be  held  responsible,  would 
be  an  immense  gain.  There  is,  on  the  present  plan,  a 
great  discouragement  in  the  apparently  unmanageable 
character  of  the  undefined  regions  in  which  evangelistic 


646  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

organizations  labor.  A  small,  defined,  and  appropri- 
ated "plot"  would  be  cultivated  with  a  sense  of  obli- 
gation and  a  hopefulness  of  spirit  not  attained  upon 
the  present  haphazard  method.  So  congregations  only- 
able  to  maintain  themselves  should  have  assigned  to 
them  the  region  immediately  around  their  centre,  for 
the  careful  cultivation  of  which  they  should  be  consid- 
ered accountable.  Many  a  congregation  is  sinking  to 
dependence,  when,  by  the  faithful  and  joint  effort  of 
pastor  and  people,  its  pews  might  be  filled,  its  funds 
replenished,  and  its  life  invigorated  and  prolonged  by 
the  evangelization  of  its  surrounding  district.  The 
cheapest,  most  effective,  and  every  way  most  reliable 
missionary  organization  is  the  congregation,  which  sub- 
sidizes and  sanctifies  the  social  instincts,  and  forms 
Christian  character  in  and  through  the  Christian  fel- 
lowship, the  want  of  which  is  the  confessed  weakness 
of  ordinary  city  missions.  When  the  lapsed  or  careless 
family  has  been  brought  to  value  religious  privileges, 
and  to  desire  them,  the  difficulty  arises.  How  are  they 
to  be  given  ?  The  mission  is  a  reclaiming  agency.  It 
does  not  contemplate  the  cultivation,  but  only  the 
awakening,  of  religious  life.  Its  very  success  becomes  its 
embarrassment.  Its  subjects  are  skilfully  and  patiently 
conducted  upward  to  the  point  of  seeking  fellowship 
with  God's  people,  and  there  they  are  to  be  abruptly 
switcJied  off  to  a  congregation  of  which  they  know 
nothing,  to  be  scrutinized  and  —  through  what  elabo- 
rate forms  they  know  not  —  put  on  probation  for  the 
Chm-ch  privileges.  It  is  not  in  the  earlier  stages  of 
Christian  feeling  that  this  process  can  be  hopefully 
entered   upon.     Even  advanced   Christians  would  not 


THE   FUTURE    CHUECH.  647 

always  clieerfully  submit  to  it.  Men  like  to  be,  or  to 
think  themselves,  free.  The  people  whom  city  mis- 
sionaries approach  have  their  full  share  of  pride,  sensi- 
tiveness, and  independence.  They  do  not  like  to  be 
"  evangelized,"  labelled,  and  handed  over  like  a  parcel, 
to  a  body  of  Christians  which,  however  valuable  and 
excellent,  is  a  strange  body  to  them.*  But  a  congrega- 
tion is  able  to  offer  a  home  to  each  family  as  it  is 
brought  in ;  the  childi'en  form  social  ties ;  the  parents 
learn  to  take  an  interest  where  they  are  of  some  conse- 
quence; and  as  the  devout  aspirations  grow  in  the 
minds  of  parents  or  children,  there  are  means  of  satisfy- 
ing them  simply,  natm*ally,  and  without  that  violence 
which  not  unfrequently  throws  back  an  inquirer  on  his 
old  and  careless  ways.  The  adjustment  of  this  matter, 
and  the  determination  of  the  means  by  which  mission 
work  can  be  made  to  pass  over  into  organizations,  like 
the  trees  of  the  field  "whose  seed  is  in  themselves 
after  their  kind,"  is  one  of  the  questions  awaiting  settle- 
ment. The  Presbyterian  Church  ought  to  be  able  to 
deal  with  it,  and  a  satisfactory  and  practical  plan 
would  be  eagerly  scanned  by  other  churches  with  a 
view  to  its  adoption,  f 


*  So  strongly  has  tliis  difficulty  been  realized  in  the  New  York  City  Mission, 
that  after  much  consideration,  and  in  the  face  of  some  difficulties  of  detail,  it 
has  been  decided  to  ^ve  congregational  shape  and  privileges  to  the  better 
attended  mission  stations.  The  difficulties  encountered  there  would  not  attend 
•the  movements  of  a  single  Church. 

f  In  New  York,  and  probably  in  other  cities  also,  there  has  grown  up  a  sys- 
tem— if  that  word  can  be  applied  properly  to  anything  so  irregular  and  without 
concert  —  of  mission  churches  and  schools.  It  is  an  obvious  advantage  that 
the  congregations  of  such  cities  should  be  grouped  in  one  Presbytery,  so  as  to 
give  opportunity  for  adjusting  the  orbits  of  these  satellites,  and  securing  by 
•mited  counsel  and  joint  action  that  they  shall  give  light  where  it  is  most 


648  PEESBYTERIATT    CnUECH. 

3.  The  United  Cliurcli,  having  rearranged  its  Presby- 
teries, might  easily  direct  Church  extension  among  the 
self-sustaining  districts  in  such  a  way  that  no  strength 
should  be  wasted,  and  that  the  least  possible  temptation 
should  lie  in  the  way  of  pastors  and  people  to  look  with 
jealousy  on  their  neighbors'  prosperity. 

The  loose  and  casual  plan  upon  which  churches  and 
mission  stations  are,  at  present,  too  much  located,  has 
these  disadvantages,  no  one  of  which  may  be  thought 
serious,  but  the  conjoined  result  of  which  is  in  the 
highest  degree  mischievous : 

1.  The  POOR  are  allowed  to  drop  out  of  view  of  the 
Church,  to  fall  into  carelessness,  and  if  ever  won  back, 
which  all  too  often  never  occurs,  it  is  by  whatever 
Church  may  "happen"  to  notice  them.  Of  coui^se  it  is 
well  that  they  should  be  drawn  in  anywhere,  if  they  learn 
Christ ;  but  it  is  a  pity  that  they  should  for  any  length 
of  time  swell  the  ranks  of  the  lapsed  masses,  create 
necessity  for  missions  outside  the  Church,  and  carry 
about  in  their  bosoms  the  rankling  thought  —  as  we 
fear  many  do  —  that  while  they  were  of  some  consider- 
ation the  Church  cared  for  them,  but  so  soon  as  they 
lost  their  position,  disregarded  them.  How  diligentlj 
Satan  fosters  this  feeling,  by  exaggeration,  misrepresen-" 
tation,  and  reiteration,  is  known  to  all  who  have  ever  had 
to  do  with  the  neglectors  of  ordinances,  who  were  once 
in  better  circumstances.  As  it  is  now,  people  are  sought 
out  and  visited,  because  they  are  on  the  roll  of  the 
church  or  congregation.     On  the  plan  we  recommend 

wanted,  and  with  the  least  risk  of  their  obstructing  the  path  of  other,  and  in 
8ome  instances  brighter,  luminaries.  Such  an  object  is  adequate  reason  in 
•t^elf  for  having,  for  the  present,  large  Presbyteries, 


THE    FUTUEE   CHURCH.  649 

they  would  be  readied  with  Christian  care,  because 
they  were  in  the  given  district  which  a  church  had  in 
charge  to  convert  into  a  "garden  inclosed."  The  loss 
to  the  Presbyterian  Chui-ch  among  the  poor,  though 
probably  no  greater  than  in  other  communities,  is  yet 
far  too  great  to  be  contemplated  with  indifference. 
Let  us  reform  in  this  respect,  and  earn  the  benediction 
which  comes  on  churches  no  less  than  on  individuals, 
"Blessed  is  he  that  considereth  the  poor." 

2.  Less  important  than  this,  but  yet  not  to  be  over- 
looliod,  is  the  facility  now  afforded  to  persons  so  in- 
clined to  fall  into  practical  neglect  of  ordinances.  A 
family  takes  a  residence  in  a  given  district.  If  not 
prominent  enough  to  be  anticipated  with  some  interest, 
and  calculated  upon  to  enter  a  particular  congregation, 
the  members  may  remain  long  enough  without  any 
approach  on  the  part  of  Christian  people.  No  one 
feels  responsibility.  No  one  wishes  to  intrude.  No 
one,  vrith  an  honest,  kindly  zeal  invites  to  the  sanc- 
tuary, and  compels  a  decision  one  way  or  another.  All 
are  apt  to  wait  to  see  what  the  family  will  do.  But 
the  family  will  do  nothing ;  and  by  and  by,  some  prov- 
idence makes  explanation  necessary,  and  they  may  be 
heard  saying,  "Where  we  lived  last,  we  attended 
chui'ch  regularly,  but  since  we  came  here,  we  knew  no 
one,  and  we  have  fallen  into  neglect."  But  suppose 
the  congregation  charged  with  the  care  of  a  district. 
Now  no  apology  is  needed  for  calling  upon  the  new 
family.  It  is  an  admitted  duty.  It  is  done  from  felt 
responsibility.  It  is  the  way  of  the  place.  If  the  fii-st 
call  is  without  result,  a  second  will  perhaps  succeed, 
and  the  hearts  that  would  have  been  glad  of  an  excuse 


650  PEESBYTEEIAN    CnUECH. 

for  letting  God  alone,  feel  that  God  will  not  let  them 
alone,  and  are  won  to  the  reverent  reception  of  His 
truth.  And  how  many,  under  such  a  well-worked 
an-angement,  would  be  found  saying,  "  We  love  our 
church,  for  when  we  came  here  it  took  kindly  notice 
of  us,  and  drew  us  in,  and  we  never  felt  as  strangers, 
and  God  has  made  it  the  means  of  unspeakable  good 
to  us." 

3.  A  third  bad  consequence  follows :  Districts  neg- 
lected follow  the  usual  law,  and  become  missionary 
ground.  Each  church  is  surrounded  by  a  belt  of  un- 
godliness. It  should  be  reduced  by  the  activities  of  the 
church,  or  rather  should  never  have  been  allowed  to 
form.  Instead  of  this,  it  is  constantly  encroaching  on 
the  church,  widening  itself  and  reducing  the  church 
area.  At  length  there  comes  a  period  of  Chi'istian  ac- 
tivity. "  Here  are  lapsed  people,  living  in  heathenism. 
Shall  we  feel  as  Cain  did  ?  Are  they  to  j^erish  at  our 
door  ?  Surely  not.  Let  us  form  a  society."  And  so  City 
Missions,  Eeformatories,  Refuges, Woman's  Aid,  Helping 
Hands,  and  other  well-meant  expedients,  come  into  being, 
each  with  its  Secretary,  Board,  and  Directors,  fii'st,  sec- 
ond, and  thii'd,  and  try  to  drain  this  Pontine  marsh,  which 
is  not  only  stagnant,  but  malaria-breeding,  and  threaten- 
ing to  overrun  the  church  itself.  And  so  the  ministers 
have  to  be  "  approached ;  "  the  societies  have  to  be  sus- 
tained, and  their  rival  claims  nicely  adjusted  ;  and  the 
community  has  to  be  interested,  and  —  we  \^Tite  it  with 
no  lack  of  appreciation  of  the  real  good  in  these  auxili- 
ary agencies  —  the  churches  are  teased  by  ihe  persist- 
ency of  worthy  people,  who  have  a  vested  interest  in 
the  life  and  prosperity  of  an  organization,  the  failure 


THE    FUTURE   CHUECH.  651 

of  wliicli  tliey  persuade  themselves  would  be  the  col- 
lapse of  Christendom.  And  then  comes  the  long  train 
of  Fail's,  Bazaars,  Concerts,  Lotteiies,  mth  their  gam- 
bling, and  other  abominations,  by  which  the  world  is 
humbly  entreated,  in  its  worldly  way,  to  help  Christ's 
kingdom,  and  in  which  we  presume,  it  laughs  at  the 
simplicity  of  the  church,  or  despises  its  servility.  And 
in  all  this  the  chxu'ch  is  punished  in  the  way  of  her  sin. 
Overtake  the  wants  of  the  population,  forsooth  !  How 
did  the  population  get  so  far  ahead  that  it  is  now  a 
hopeless  race  to  overtake  it  ?  By  the  church's  neglect. 
Had  she  done  her  duty,  this  "  mixed  multitude "  had 
not  grown  up  defiant  of  the  societies,  which  are  called 
in  as  mercenaries  to  gain  the  ground  which  the  church 
should  have  conquered  and  held  all  along. 

It  may  be  said,  indeed,  that  we  assume  that  our  church 
shall  occupy  all  the  ground  and  include  all  the  popula- 
tion. We  do  not  make  such  an  assumption.  Let  other 
churches  do  the  same  if  they  think  fit,  and  gather  in 
all  in  their  districts  that  are  in  afiinity  with  them. 
The  accumulation  of  lapsed  Methodists,  Presbyterians, 
Congregationalists,  and  Episcopalians  vdll  make  a 
practically  heathen  people ;  and  their  being  cared  for 
in  detail  l)y  theii*  respective  churches  will  prevent  the 
catastrophe.  Nor  would  it  be  any  calamity  if  the  Pres- 
byterian elder  should  say  to  the  Methodist  class-leader, 
"  I  came  the  other  day  on  a  family  that  would  more 
readily  fall  into  your  church  than  mine ;  won't  you  try 
them  ?  "  "Wlien  the  godless  find  churchmen  —  we  use 
the  word  in  its  true  sense  —  thus  work  disinterestedly, 
they  will  be  helped  to  believe  us  something  better  than 


652  PEESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

members   of   ambitious  corporations.      Oh !  for  mure 
charity  and  fewer  "  charities  "  ! 

But,  it  may  be  said,  this  process  would  entail  the  em- 
ployment of  a  large  staff  of  Christian  workers.  Of 
course  it  would  require  a  number.  But  in  the  first  in- 
stance the  Presbyterian  Chui-ch  has  them  to  her  hand. 
What  are  her  Elders?  A  body  of  "selectmen"  to  comfort 
the  minister  ?  An  honorary  and  ornamental  Committee 
meant  to  give  the  weight  of  their  sanction  to  the  cause, 
as  a  list  of  Presidents  gives  respectability  to  a  charity 
ball  ?  No ;  they  are  a  bench  of  Bishops,  to  whom  the 
Holy  Ghost  has  given  oversight  of  a  congregation.  In 
theory  the  office  is  the  glory  of  our  chui-ch.  In  practice, 
it  has  been  a  source  of  immense  strength  to  her.  But 
she  is  not  deriving  from  it  all  the  aid  she  ought  to  ob- 
tain, and  the  fault  is  her  own.  She  has  not  magnified 
the  office  that  distinguishes  her.  Other  churches  have 
Bishops.  So  has  she.  Other  churches  have  Deacons. 
So  has  she.  But  she  has  Elders,  as  she  professes  to  be- 
lieve, on  the  New  Testament  plan,  and  with  adaptations 
and  authority  peculiar  to  her.  Let  the  United  Church 
make  the  whole  use  of  the  Eldership  that  Scripture  and 
reason  warrant,  and  she  mil  find  herself  possessed  of 
power  she  has  never  yet  realized.  Let  ministers  preach 
on  the  office.  Let  them  teach  the  people  to  magnif}^ 
it.  Let  them  take  pains  to  train  Elders,  to  introduce 
them  to  work,  to  lead  the  people  to  expect  their  ^dsits, 
admonitions,  and  Chinstian  offices.  Let  earnest  Elders 
deal  with  those  who  are  idle  or  inefficient,*  so  as  to  deepen 
a  sense  of  responsibility,  and  send  the  indolent  either  out 

*  In  some  instances,  Elders'  meetings  — separate  and  distinct  —  for  mutual 
edification  and  prayer,  have  been  set  up,  with  great  advantage. 


THE   FUTUKE   CHUKCH. 


653 


into  the  field,  or  out  of  the  office.  It  is  a  mockeiy  of 
sacred  things,  and  has  aU  the  mischievous  effects  of 
such  mockeiy,  to  go  through  the  solemn  pageant  of  or- 
daining men  to  duties  they  never  attempt.  Let  us  here 
be  true  to  the  facts  of  life,  and  to  the  commands  of  the 
Master;  let  us  honor  Him,  and  He  will  honor  us. 

This  waste   of    power  in    the    Eldership    suggests 
another  and  similar  sphere  for  reform.     Here  is  a  vill- 
age that  expects,  like  two-thii-ds  of  all  American  villages, 
to  become  "  quite  a  place  "  by  and  by.     Some  years  ago, 
a  settled  pastor  did  not  get  on  well.     There  was  some 
trouble  about  his  leaving.     The  consequence  is  that  the 
congregation   has    since  been  provided   for  by  stated 
supplies.     A  minister  is  engaged  fi'om  year  to  year,  but 
not  installed  as  pastor.     A  conscientious  man  Avill  try 
to  do  spiritual  work  wherever  God  is  pleased  to  put 
him ;  but  it  is  easy  to  see  how  much  is  wanting  to  the 
complete  idea  of  the  pastorate  in  this  penny-a-day  plan. 
How  does  a  man  stand  in  the  couimunity  whom  a  con- 
gregation hires  from  year  to  year,  but  does  not  suffi- 
ciently trust  to  requii-e  his  settlement  ?     In  some  mstan- 
ces,  it  is  true,  the  minister  has  declined  settlement  for 
reasons  of  his  own,  in  which  case  the  history  and  opera- 
tion of  the  evil  are  different,  but  the  evil  itself  remams. 
Both  minister  and  congregation  are  in  a  position   of 
weakness,  relatively  to  one  another,  and  to  the  general 
community.     It  is  good  for  a  minister  to  be  able  to  say 
"  My  people."     If  there  be  true  worth  in  him,  the  words 
recall  responsibility,   Chiistian  honor,  fidelity— "My 
people  — who  appreciated  me,  caUed  me,  asked  my  set- 
tlement over  them  in  the  Lord,  honor  me  in  the  Lord, 
for  whom  I  watch,  pray, live,  labor;  and  among  whom, 


654  PRESBYTERIAN   CHUECn. 

SO  far  as  I  know,  I  am  to  die  and  be  bui^ied."  And 
so  it  is  good  for  the  people  to  be  able  to  say  "  Our  ^ptxs 
tor."  It  recalls  their  own  act  and  choice,  their  obliga 
tion  to  receive  his  teachino;,  their  union  as  a  cono-re^-a 
tion,  theii'  relation  to  him  and  to  one  another.  "  Our 
pastor,  who  loves  us  and  whom  we  love,  who  be- 
longs to  us,  to  whom  we  belong,  who  goes  in  and  out 
among  us,  in  our  joys  and  sorrows,  sharing  both,  and 
giving  to  us,  the  childi'6n,  the  consolation  that  cheered 
our  departing  parents."  This  is  the  feeling  that 
ought  to  be,  and  that  cannot  be  in  the  case  of  these  in- 
complete connections.  "  Moderator,"  said  the  old  man 
when  it  was  proposed  to  transfer  his  pastor  to  another 
sphere,  and  the  Presbytery  was  sitting  upon  the  ques- 
tion, "  oui'  minister  has  been  with  us  thirty  years. 
He  has  married  most  of  us,  baptized  oui-  chikben,  and 
married  many  of  them.  He  has  been  at  the  dying  beds 
and  graves  of  oui'  departed.  Moderator,  we  hoped  he 
would  live  among  us,  die  among  us,  and  be  bimed 
among  us,  and  h?'eak  ground  for  us  at  the  resurrection 
morn.''^ 

Quaintly  put  as  this  is,  it  embodies  a  fine  sentiment, 
the  strength  and  value  of  which  it  is  impossible  to 
overestimate  in  a  Chi-istian  church.  It  is  desirable 
that  the  Presbyterian  Commonwealth  should  rid  itself 
of  these  anomalies,  which  are  at  war  with  her  theoiy, 
with  her  organization,  and,  we  hiunbly  think,  with  her 
efficiency.  A  system  of  rotation,  such  as  our  Metho 
dist  brethren  employ,  woi-ks  well,  because  it  is  the  ac- 
cepted plan  of  operations.  But  when,  in  opposition  to 
oui-  Church's  idea  of  the  pastoral  relation,  the  average 
of  pastorates  is  reduced  to  almost  the  term  of  Metho  • 


THE   FUTUEE    CHUKCH.  655 

disfc  residence  in  one  locality,  as  it  is  said  to  be  in  New 
England ;  or  when,  as  in  the  case  of  these  long  "  stated 
supplies,"  years  pass  without  any  pastoral  relation 
whatever,  nothing  but  growing  weakness,  derange- 
ment, and  depreciation  of  the  ministerial  office  can 
result.  It  is  a  sore  misfortune  for  the  land  when  her 
rulers  fall  into  contempt,  and  their  office  is  despised, 
for  respect  for  them  is  a  kind  of  chivalrous  self-respect. 
And  it  is  a  terrible  loss  to  a  Christian  community  when 
her  religious  leaders  of  whom  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
says,  "  Obey  them  that  have  the  rule  over  you,"  and  the 
high  office  they  occupy,  fall  below  their  proper  place 
in  the  conimunity.  To  raise  the  ministiy,  not  in  the 
Anglican,  but  the  Presbyterian  and  evangelical  sense, 
is  to  raise  the  entii-e  Church,  and  to  bless  the  commu- 
nity. 

But  this  desirable  elevation  is  closely  connected  with 
another  and  very  commonplace  topic,  the  material  sup- 
port of  the  ministiy.  Attention  has  need  to  be  called 
to  this  point,  and  in  many  instances  this  is  all  that 
needs  to  be  done.  Many  congregations  only  require  to 
be  shown  that  they  are  defrauding  the  laborer  of  his 
hire,  that  the  preachers  of  the  gosj^el  should  live  by  the 
gospel,  and  that  their  minister  only  lives  by  the  gospel 
and  his  ot\ti  or  his  wife's  means,  and  they  hasten  to 
rectify  the  wi'ong.  But  in  many  cases  there  is  an  en- 
tii'ely  mistaken  idea  upon  this  subject,  which  needs  to 
be  energetically  dealt  mth,  and  removed,  like  any  other 
practical  error,  by  solid  instruction.  The  agricultural 
population  is  slower  in  movement  than  the  dwellers  in 
cities.  Producing  on  theii*  own  ground  much  of  what 
they  consume,  the  farmers  form  no  idea  of  how  much  it 


656  PKESBYTEEIAN   CHURCH. 

costs  to  pay  for  everything.  Receiving  the  money 
they  use  once  a  year,  they  are  less  familiar  with  it 
than  traders  who  constantly  pass  it  through  theii' 
hands,  and  a  sum  of  five  dollars  appears  much  larger 
to  a  farmer  than  it  does  to  a  storekeeper  of  no  greater 
wealth.  Then  the  amount  of  supj^lies  "  sent  in "  to 
ministers  is  tremendously  overrated  in  quantity,  and 
still  more  in  value  to  liiini.  On  all  these  accounts  the 
rural  population  has  special  need  of  enlightenment  on 
this  point.  Yet  it  is  not  with  them,  but  with  the 
larger  and  richer  chm^ches,  the  reform  is  to  be  prac- 
tically begim.  When  a  subscription  is  to  be  raised 
in  the  community,  we  go  to  the  larger  givers  first, 
knomng  that  they  will  be  followed  by  the  less  liberal 
or  less  competent.  Precisely  so  we  believe  it  must  be 
with  the  raising  of  the  standard  of  ministerial  income. "' 
The  most  obvious  method  of  putting  ministers'  in- 
comes upon  a  basis  not  contemptible  is  by  a  systema- 
tized employment  of  the  resom'ces  of  the  rich  for  sup- 
plementing the  contributions  of  the  poor.  The  Free 
Church  of  Scotland  has  given  j^restige  to  the  plan  of 
a  common  fund,  into  which  all  put  theii*  contributions, 


*  With  this  conviction  we  cannot  regard  with  any  satisfaction  tlie 
course  pursued,  no  doubt  mth  the  best  motives,  by  clergymen  declining 
increased  salaries.  If  they  do  not  require  them,  many  of  their  brethren 
do.  If  they  do  not  need  the  money,  tliere  are  a  hundred  ways  of  using  it 
for  good ;  and  if  they  are  not  as  capable  as  the  trustees  of  the  church  of 
laying  out  for  God's  glory  ii  thousand  dollars  or  so,  they  are  hardly  fit 
to  lead  a  Christian  conununity.  It  is  not  common  for  a  ricli  lawj'er  or 
doctor  to  reduce  his  fees  l)ccausc  he  is  well  off,  nor  would  it  serve  either 
the  profession  or  the  community.  Tlie  placing  of  the  ministerial  profes- 
sion upon  a  different  basis  hi  this  respect,  has  done  much  evil,  of  which  we 
shall  have  occasion  to  take  subsequent  notice. 


THE    FUTUEE    CHURCn.  G57 

and  out  of  whicli  all  congregations  receive  for  their 
ministei-s  an  "equal  dividend." 

But  it  by  no  means  follows  that  a  movement  in  Scot- 
land arising  out  of  the  strongest  feeling  naturally 
evoked  by  legislative  wrong,  could  be  here  copied  with 
success,  in  cold  blood.  The  immense  extent  of  country 
over  which  the  Presbyterian  Church  must  operate,  and 
possibly  what  may  be  called  the  national  feeling,  are 
unfavorable  to  such  a  common  sustentation  fund.  But 
we  are  already  sustaining  many  of  the  weaker  "causes'* 
through  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  and  otherwise. 
The  consolidation  of  these  resources  and  operations  might 
l3e  made  to  do  the  work  at  the  lower  end  of  the  scale, 
while  the  movement  of  intelligence  and  liberality  from 
the  higher  might  meet  it,  and  so  produce  a  church 
above  reproach  on  the  score  of  justice  to  ministers :  for 
surely  it  is  not  the  divine  will  that  the  world  should  be 
brought  to  truth,  justice,  and  piety,  through  a  ministry 
systematically  ^vronged  and  underj^aid.* 

For  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  a  work  of  this  kind, 
we  have  an  order  of  officers  —  the  Deacons  —  to  whom  it 
is  appropriate,  and  ought  to  be  congenial,  work.     The 


*  One  of  the  very  strongest  arguments  on  l-)chalf  of  the  national  estab- 
lishment of  the  British  Isles  is  founded  upon  the  inadequacy  of  ministers' 
incomes  in  America.  They  can  tell  there  of  ministers  among  us  keeping 
stores,  and  being  driven  to  still  more  unprofessional  pursuits  —  almost  as 
much  so  as  Paul's  tent-making.  They  make  rather  meiTy  over  such 
accounts  as  they  have  received  of  "  donation  parties;  "and  they  allege 
that  chm-ches  so  sustained  cannot  raise  and  educate  in  the  natural  way 
tlieir  own  ministers.  Even  so  lately  as  the  last  meeting  of  the  Scottish 
Assembly  [Established],  Dr.  Norman  McLeod  urged  tlHs  argument  mth 
all  his  characteristic  force  and  earnestness.  American  failure  in  this  par- 
ticular is  a  strong  buttress  of  Old  World  state  chui-ches. 
43 


658  PRESBYTEEIAN    CHUECH. 

i 

legislative  arrangements  of  the  country  regarding  ten- 
ares  take  out  of  the  deacons'  disposal  and  give  to  the 
trustees  what  in  European  chui'ches  is  supposed  to  be 
peculiar  to  the  deacons'  court.  How  much  good  public 
service  even  a  few  spirited  men,  conversant  with  affairs, 
themselves  accustomed  to  business  life,  might  effect  by 
the  agitation  and  discussion  of  this  question  !  Let  us 
suppose  them  to  call  a  State  convention;  to  invite  all 
denominations  to  send  representatives;  to  compare 
notes ;  to  ascertain  how  many  ministers  —  educated  for 
the  work  at  some  ex]3ense,  often  at  the  public  expense  — 
had  been  starved  out  of  it ;  to  compare  the  usual  mode 
of  providing  ministerial  incomes ;  to  examine  theii*  pro- 
portion to  the  incomes  of  other  forms  of  educated  indus- 
try ;  to  tabulate  and  publish  the  results ;  and  then  to 
set  about  acting  on  such  suggestions  as  could  not  fail  to 
be  elicited :  suppose  other  States  to  follow  the  example, 
what  an  amount  of  good  might  be  done  to  the  Chm*ch 
and  to  the  country  ! 

For  our  sober  and  deliberate  opinion  is,  that  on  this 
«ide  is  the  greatest  weakness  of  the  American  churches. 
In  zeal,  fidelity  to  the  world,  energy,  and  capacity  of 
adaptation  to  the  wants  of  men,  they  have  no  superior. 
But  the  arrangements  regarding  the  supply  and  main- 
tenance of  ministers  are  aj)en  to  criticism.  Of  course, 
we  who  live  in  the  country  understand  the  allowances 
that  have  to  be  made  for  its  peculiar  circumstances, 
arising  from  a  history  like  which  the  world  has  no  other. 
But  others  have  not  the  intelligence,  perhaps  not  always 
the  candor,  to  take  these  things  into  account ;  yet  the 
fact  may  be  fairly  weighed,  as  one  of  many  considera^ 
tions  that  should  stimulate  us  to  reform. 


THE   FUTURE   CHURCH.  659 

Our  attention  has  been  fixed,  so  far,  upon  tlie  means 
of  "strengthening  the  stakes."  But  when  the  Church 
has  put  her  machinery  in  the  best  working  order,  when 
the  organization  is  as  thorough  as  it  can  be  made,  what 
is  it  to  accomplish  ?     What  work  is  to  be  done  ? 

To  this  question  but  one  answer  can  be  given.  The 
great  function  of  the  Chui^ch  is  to  teach  the  truth.  The 
Church  is  a  mighty  civilizer.  She  keeps  intellect  awake. 
She  is  a  grand  reformer.  Science  flourishes  most  where 
her  testimony  is  clearest  and  best  heard.  Commerce 
lives  in  the  security  and  confidence  she  begets.  Crime 
is  kept  mainly  outside  her  territory.  But  all  those 
incidental  and  collateral  benefits  are  attained,  not 
when  directly  aimed  at,  but  as  the  results  of  the 
Church's  fidelity  to  her  main  duty  —  the  duty  of  wit- 
nessing to  the  truth.  AVhen  these  objects  are  aimed  at 
as  primary,  the  consequence  is  often  enough  a  failure ; 
when  the  salvation  of  men  is  dii-ectly  aimed  at,  the 
minor  benefits  come  in  their  place  as  consequences. 
There  is  indeed  no  true  social  or  moral  movement  in 
which  the  Churchman  may  not  take  his  place.  There  is 
no  honest  human  effort  in  which  he  may  not,  if  it  be 
otherwise  suitable,  bear  a  part ;  but  his  main  power  to 
do  good,  his  special  and  distinctive  "  talent,"  is  setting 
forth  the  Christian  truth.  To  use  a  bad  instrument 
when  a  good  is  at  hand;  to  employ  an  old  flint-gun 
when  the  newest  and  best  can  be  had  —  such  a  course 
is,  by  common  consent,  foolish  either  in  peace  or  in  war. 
Why,  then,  should  men  armed  mth  that  which  is  "  the 
power  of  God  unto  salvation"  turn  to  weaker  wea- 
pons ?  Is  human  ingenuity  to  succeed  where  the  power 
of  God  ■  is  ineffectual  ?     Is  human  speculation  to  avail 


GGO  PEESBYTERIA^    CHUECH. 

wliere  divine  revelation  fails  ?  Will  good  be  done  by 
ingenious  essays  on  petty  side-issues,  if  "  the  cross  of 
Christ "  be  impotent  ?  He  who  loves  Zion  may  well 
pray  and  labor  that  the  Church  of  his  affection  may  be 
ever  distinguished  by  her  decided,  upright,  downright, 
thorough  evangelicalism.  Let  her  ministers  be  "  Gospel- 
lers." The  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  is  the  sharp-cutting 
instrument  with  which  they  are  to  clear  away  vices  and 
crimes.  "  If  the  iron  be  blunt,"  says  the  wise  man,  "  and 
he  do  not  whet  the  edge,  then  must  he  put  to  more 
strength."  And  many  a  strong  man  is  toiling  with  a 
blunt  axe,  when  the  sharpest  possible  is  within  his 
reach.  "  For  the  Word  of  God  is  quick  and  powerful,  and 
sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword,  piercing  even  to  the 
dividing  asunder  of  the  joints  and  marrow,  and  is  a  dis- 
eerner  of  the  thou2:hts  and  intents  of  the  heart."  Let 
the  Presbyteiian  Church  of  the  future  be  marked  above 
all  l^y  this,  that  her  ministers  are  teachers  of  the  Word, 
in  Sabbath  schools,  in  Bible  classes,  in  the  pulpit ;  let 
her  people  be  thorough  in  their  knowledge  of  the  Scrij)- 
tures;  let  her  prayers,  her  sermons,  her  literature  be 
rich  in  scripture  truth ;  and  her  energies  will  be  little 
wasted  and  her  time  little  consumed  in  the  temper-trying 
discussion  of  such  petty  crotchets  as  have  all  too  often 
vexed  the  community.* 

*  The  earlier  Protestants  were  distinguished  by  their  using  their  Bibles  in 
church.  Men  have  heard  of  the  great  English  evangelist's  amazement  when 
he  read  his  text  in  a  Scottish  pulpit,  at  the  rustle  of  the  leaves  as  the  people 
turned  it  up  in  their  Bibles.  Why  have  we  abandoned  this  goodly  custom  of 
the  fathers,  both  of  Scotland  and  of  New  England  ?  Why  not  use  our  Bibles 
in  church  ?  We  need  every  help  to  memory  in  divine  things,  and  it  is  of 
Bome  importance  to  be  able  to  ' '  place  "  the  great  sayings  of  inspiration.  Noth- 
ing can  be  more  pitiable  than  the  helplessness  of  many  a  professing  Christian, 


THE    FUTURE    CHUECH.  661 

VYe  make  no  apology  for  adverting  at  tliis  point  to 
the  imperative  necessity  that  exists  for  securing  for  our 
children  thorough  scriptural  instruction  in  the  Sunday 
schools.  It  is  pleasant  to  think  of  the  homage  done  to 
God's  Word  by  its  being  read  in  our  common  schools  ; 
but  if  the  American  churches  j^ersuade  themselves  that 
anything  approaching  to  real  scriptural  kno^vledge  is 
thus  given  to  any  considerable  proj^ortion  of  our  popu- 
lation, we  fear  it  is  a  mischievous  delusion.  Thousands 
have  passed  through  them  with  no  more  knowledge  of 
the  Word  than  suffices  for  a  flippant  allusion,  or  a  j^ro- 
fane  reference.  The  Church  must  see  to  it  that  the 
Word  of  her  God  be  taught  her  young  members,  or  they 
will  be  practically  ignorant  of  it.  Nor  is  it  at  all 
certain  that  their  attendance  on  the  Sabbath  school  is 
an  adequate  remedy.  Many  teachers  are  incompetent 
as  teacliers  /  and  much  of  the  Sunday-school  literature 
which  is  superseding  the  reading  of  the  Bible  is  worse 
than  useless.  It  is  mischievous.  What  can  be  the 
effect  of  gi^^g  childi-en  mere  stories  with  just  enough 
spice  of  religion  to  make  them  "  Sunday  books,"  but  to 
drive  them  to  novels  ?  For  novelettes  many  of  these 
volumes  are,  and  often  poor  as  such.  There  is  little 
reading,  and  no  study  of  Scriptm^e  on  week-days ;  and 
on  Sabbath  it  is  supj^osed  to  be  as  it  should  if  the  chil- 
dren are  engaged  with  their  Sunday-school  books ;  and  so 
they  grow  to  matm'ity,  with  only  the  most  superficial 
ideas  of  the  holy  oracles.  The  years  roll  on,  and  they 
go  West,  or  to  Europe,  or  to  social  circles  at  home,  where 
indifference  or  scepticism  reigns,  or  where  some  human 

wlieii  an  occasion  arises  for  finding, —  say  one  of  the  minor  prophets.     And 
j-et  this  book  is  his  Bible  —  the  foundation  of  all  his  hopes  ! 


662  PKESBYTEKIAN   CHUECH. 

"  ism "  is  in  the  ascendant,  and  they  have  no  definite 
knowledge  to  the  contrary,  and  go  with  the  tide.  All 
this  must  be  considered  by  the  Chui-ch,  if  her  childi-en 
are  to  be  safe.* 

And  at  this  point  let  us  not  suppress  the  hope  that 
the  catechism  of  the  Church  ^vill  receive  increased 
attention  in  the  training  of  the  young.  If  the  vows 
which  parents  make  in  the  act  of  dedicating  theii-  chil- 
dren to  God  mean  anything,  the  parents  bind  themselves 
to  teach  their  ofPspring  the  doctrines  of  the  Christian 
religion.  Do  they  ?  Were  we  to  ask  thousands  of  pro- 
fessing Christians,  "  "What  doctrines  of  the  Christian  re- 
ligion have  you  taught  your  children  ?  "  we  should  get 
no  satisfactory  answer.  If  our  young  people  were  left 
to  learn  arithmetic  and  grammar  in  the  haphazard  way 
in  Avhich  they  are  left  to  learn  these  doctrines,  these  un- 
ambitious attainments  would  be  much  rarer  than  they 
are.  No  wonder  that  a  speculation  cannot  be  pro- 
pounded among  us  so  silly  that  it  shall  not  find  follow- 
ers. Multitudes,  and  that  where  the  population  is  the 
least  affected  by  the  tide  of  emigration,  have  no  anchor 
in  definite  religious  knowledge,  and  are  consequently 
blown  about  by  every  wind.  True,  it  is  easy  to  make 
flippant  statements  about  the  difiiculty  of  learning  om' 
catechism,  and  its  obscurity  to  the  young  mind.  The 
young  mind  finds  the  multiplication-table  hard ;  learns 

*  It  will  not,  I  trust,  be  thought  improper  to  refer  here  to  the  fact  that  the 
Scotch-Irish  form  so  large  and  so  reliable  a  portion  of  many  a  congregation,  and 
that  it  is  because  they  have  been  so  grounded  in  the  truths  of  the  Word,  that 
when  they  settle,  instead  of  consulting  mere  convenience,  they  either  find 
out  or  they  form  a  congregation  where  they  can  have  the  same  old,  definite 
tniths.  There  are,  of '  course,  many  sad  exceptions,  but  such  is  the  general 
course  ;  and  such  is  its  explanation. 


THE    FUTURE    CHURCH.  GC3 

it  as  a  mere  matter  of  memory,  and  finds  tlie  use  of  it 
afterwards.  It  is  so  witli  much  of  the  education  of 
every  one  of  us.  Common  sense,  observation,  and 
fidelity  to  oui'  vows  all  combine  to  iu*ge  uj^on  parents 
the  right  and  conscientious  use  of  a  help  so  valua!  )le  in 
giving  the  young  members  of  the  Church  a  competent 
knowledge  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion."* 
In  confirmation  of  the  views  here  presented,  and  with 
general  reference  to  the  fitness  of  Presbyterianism  to 
instruct  and,  if  we  may  so  say,  unif}^  a  people,  let 
the  reader  give  a  moment's  thought  to  Scotland.  Small 
as  a  country,  and  one  half  of  it  moor ;  long  harassed  by 
wars,  intestine  and  foreign;  in  constant  jeopardy  fi-om 
the  ambition  of  England,  and  compelled  again  and 
again  to  buy  her  freedom  with  blood,  what  a  power 
she  has  been  in  religion,  in  philosophy,  in  commerce,  in 
l^olitics,  and  in  war !  How  much  she  has  moulded  human 
thought,  and  influenced  human  action  !  Her  Church  has 
again  and  again  been  violently  agitated,  and  many  a  se- 
cession has  taken  place  in  her  borders.  But  her  seceders 
carry  with  them  her  Confession  of  Faith,  her  catechism, 
her  forms  of  government  and  of  worship,  without  the 
slightest  change.  The  overwhelming  mass  of  her  people 
are  Presbyterians.  Look  at  England,  which  has  also  a 
Chui'ch,  from  w^hich  an   enormous   proportion  of  the 


*  It  has  been  shrewdly  observed  that  the  method  of  baptism  in  the  English 
Establishment  —  the  placing  of  the  responsibility  of  training  upon  persons  who 
became  sponsors  as  a  mere  act  of  social  courtesy,  and  who  mean  nothing — has 
done  much  to  send  people  into  the  ranks  of  the  Baptists.  It  is  matter  for 
congratulation  that  there  was  such  an  excellent  body  to  receive  them ;  for  the 
rough  sense  of  mankind  wiU  always  ask  the  value  of  infant  baptism,  detached 
from  parental  teaching.  "  Go  ye,  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing 
them." 


()G-4  PRESBYTERLViq^    CHURCH. 

population,  nearly  a  half,  have  seceded.  But  when  they 
have  gone  out  they  have  uniformly  left  behind  them 
bishop,  prayer-book,  and  catechism,  and  adopted  or  set  up 
something  entu-ely  without  all  these  - —  often  conspicu- 
ously opposed  to  them.  English  seceders  get  away  as 
far  as  they  can  from  their  former  system ;  Scottish  sece- 
ders, without  exception,  have  gone  out  avowedly  and 
actually  to  obtain  a  purer  Presbyterianism.  We  ad- 
duce this  notable  historical  comparison,  not  mth  regard 
to  the  relative  goodness  of  either  system,  but  as  proof 
that  a  Presbyterian  Church,  rightly  worked,  gives  stabil- 
ity, steadfastness,  and  a  healthy,  safe,  conservative  bias 
to  a  people.  It  is  therefore,  we  humbly  venture  to 
think,  well  adapted  to  elevate  a  country  like  om-s, — a 
country  whose  population  is  so  various  in  training, 
mental  habits,  and  tendencies,  and  in  which  change  is 
all  too  readily  j)resumed  to  be  improvement. 

For  another  feature  of  the  Scottish  population  de- 
serves our  notice  in  this  connection.  Though  repeated 
schisms  have  weakened  the  "  Kirk  "  established  in  the 
country,  the  population  is  exceptionally  .homogeneous 
in  religious  thinldng.  Not  only  is  Ai'ianism,  for  exam- 
ple, unkno^vn,  but  even  denominations  elsewhere  strong, 
such  as  Congregationalism  and  Methodism,  have  hardly 
found  materials  with  which  to  build.  Whether  this  is 
an  advantage  or  not,  may  be  a  matter  of  divergent  view. 
The  question  is  not  material  to  our  object.  The  point  we 
emphasize  is,  that  Presbyterianism  has  held  and  united 
the  whole  people.  It  has  retained  the  strongest  hold 
on  tlie  popular  mind,  as  evidenced  by  the  influence  of 
its  courts.  The  Times  newspaper,  though  conspicuously 
unfriendly  to  Scotland,  in  a  review  of  the  last  General 


THE   FUTURE    CHURCH.  665 

Assemblies  and  the  U.  P.  Synod,  describes  them  as  the 
most  influential  ecclesiastical  assemblies  in  the  British 
empire,  compared  with  which  the  meetings  of  the  Con- 
gregational Union  and  Convocation  ai'e  feeble.  These 
courts  of  review  exercise  real  power.  They  decide 
cases,  legislate  upon  questions  that  have  interested  kii'k- 
sessions,  presbyteries,  and  synods,  and  so  have  reached 
the  entire  thoughtful  mind  of  the  country.  The  effect 
of  such  an  agency  here  ought  to  be  the  same  as  it  lias 
been  there — to  bind  the  people  together  in  conviction 
and  sympathy ;  to  maintain  the  recollection  of  a  real 
and  spii'itual  authority  in  the  world ;  to  keep  alive  in 
men's  minds  the  feeling  that  there  is  a  kingdom  of  Jesus 
Christ  to  which  and  through  which  he  speaks  on  earth  ; 
and  so  to  give  to  men  in  a  true  and  evangelical  way 
what  the  Church  of  Eome  offers  in  corrupt  and  un- 
scriptural  fashion,  but  yet  by  presenting  which,  and  so 
satisfying  a  craving  of  the  human  spirit,  she  commends 
herself  to  mankind,  and  maintains  her  j^osition. 

In  order  to  realize  this  liigh  object,  and  become  a  yet 
greater  power  for  good  in  the  country,  we  doubt  not 
the  Church  of  the  future  will  seek  in  a  higher  degree  to 
popularize  her  services.  And  this,  we  apprehend,  will 
1)6  done,  not  so  much  by  the  adoption  of  new,  as  by  the 
resumption  of  former  methods.  Take,  for  example,  the 
subject  of  singing  in  divine  service.  In  many  churches 
this  noble  function  of  the  Church  has  been"  relegated  to 
a  few  persons,  and  the  appearance  a  congregation  pre- 
sents to  an  observant  heathen  would  be  that  of  a  body 
of  people  in  a  large  building,  at  one  end  of  which,  on  an 
eminence  above  the  people,  a  man  does  all  the  praying 


666  PRESBYTERLiN    CHURCH. 

and  talking,  and  at  the  other  end  of  wHcli,  three  or  f  our 
others,  at  a  greater  elevation,  do  all  the  praising !  This 
plan  is  bad  enough  in  city  churches,  but  when  it  is 
rudely  mimicked  in  small  villages,  as  it  has  been  seen, 
it  is  intolerable.  It  recalls  Conybeare's  description  of 
the  state  of  matters  in  many  English  chui'ches,  where  a 
set  of  the  worst  repro])ates  in  the  parish  bawl  out  "  the 
Hanthem,"  or  shriek  out  the  Psalms,  out  of  which  the 
poetry  has  been  previously  extracted  by  Tate  &  Brady. 
Musical  faculty  and  moral  worth  do  not,  unhappily,  al- 
ways go  together  ;  and  where  the  "  voices  "  in  the  sing- 
ers' gallery  disport  themselves  in  the  intervals  of  their 
performance  in  a  way  more  like  theii*  week-day  than 
their  Sabbath  spheres,  the  farce  is  tm'ned  into  an  abom- 
ination. We  shall  live,  let  us  hope,  to  see  this  thing 
banished  from  evangelical  churches.  All  the  history  of 
Protestantism  is  against  it.  Luther  led  German}^  to 
worship  in  spirit  and  in  truth  in  no  small  degree 
through  the  popular  hymn-singing.  Knox  had  the 
Scottish  people  taught  to  praise  God  so  thoroughl}-, 
that  a  mass-meeting  could  sing  a  psalm  through  without 
books,  and  in  the  "  parts  "  of  the  melody.  The  Wes- 
leys,  the  power  and  value  of  whose  work  can  hardly  be 
overrated,  sung  JMethodism  into  the  cots  and  hearts  of 
the  most  inaccessible  of  the  English  population.  The 
spectacle  of  a  church  claiming  to  win  the  masses,  and 
taking  from  them  the  one  portion  of  public  worship  in 
which  they  can  all  unite,  would  be,  if  not  so  saddening, 
supremely  ridiculous. 

It  is  idle  to  say  that  certain  people  get  music  of  the 
highest  order  elsewhere,  and  if  they  cannot  have  it  in 


THE    FUTURE    CHUECH.  667 

the  cliurcli  tliey  will  not  come.  The  patrons  of  the  opera 
and  theatre  have  never  been  of  so  much  real  value  in  the 
Church  as  to  be  worth  consulting,  and  least  of  all  should 
devout  and  serious  worshippers  be  wronged  and  driven 
away,  for  the  aesthetic  satisfaction  of  casual  and  pat- 
ronizing visitors  to  the  services.  Let  Israel  worship 
God  as  He  has  appointed,  and  let  the  "  mixed  multitude" 
follow,  or  keep  away.  But  the  army  of  the  Lord  is  not 
to  change  its  plans  for  the  idle  pleasure  of  the  camp-fol- 
lowers. And  it  is  vain  to  think  of  mnning  the  world 
by  mere  music.  What  is  the  value  to  any  chm'ch  of 
such  acquisitions  ?  The  week-day  entertainments  sup- 
ply the  genuine  article,  and  without  making  the  church 
an  actual  theatre,  you  cannot  compete  with  them. 

Whether  a  less  formal  style  of  j)ulpit  address  mil  be 
adopted  in  the  future,  is  an  open  question.  There  al- 
ways will  be  in  the  Chui'ch  pi'obably  —  and  to  the 
Church's  advantage  —  a  nmuber  of  men  who  will  read 
sermons,  which  by  theu*  very  nature  almost  i-equire  to 
be  read.  But  possibly  the  power  of  the  ministers,  as  a 
whole,  would  be  increased  by  theu'  speaJdng  instead  of 
reading  their  discourses.  We  have  to  get  rid  of  the 
phrase  '■'■extempore  preaching."  There  never  was  con- 
tinuous good  extempore  preaching.  Any  preaching,  to 
be  good,  must  be  carefully  j^repared,  m  the  order  of 
thought,  links  of  ai'gument,  substance  of  illustration, 
and  in  some  parts  in  the  phraseology.  It  is  not  unrea- 
sonable to  think  that  the  minister  can  remember  what 
he  expects  his  people  to  remember.  And  it  is  hard  to 
expect  the  audience  to  carry  away  definite  thought 
which  an  educated  man  cannot  put  into  intelligible  hm- 


668  PRESBYTERIAN    CnUECH. 

giiage  and  speak  to  tliem.  At  the  same  time,  it  must 
not  be  forgotten,  that  no  rule  can  be  laid  do^vn  that  will 
a])ply  to  all  cases ;  that  men  will  always  do  their  work 
according  to  their  aptitudes  and  tastes ;  and  that  the 
great  power  that  is  wanted  is  not  so  much  that  of  free 
utterance  or  finished  reading,  as  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  When  we  recollect  that  Jonathan  Edwards 
read  closely  those  sermons  through  which  so  noted  a 
revival  was  produced,  we  are  interrupted  in  our  gener- 
alizations. God  "  divideth  to  every  man  severally  as  He 
mil." 

That  the  organization  of  the  Church  is  adaj^ted  to 
the  institutions  of  our  country,  and  that  it  can  work 
harmoniously  with  them,  is  a  truth  so  obvious  as  to  re- 
quire only  statement.  Again  and  again  there  has  been 
collision  in  Great  Britain  and  on  the  Continent  be- 
tween the  civil  government  and  the  churches.  We  see 
no  likelihood  of  such  conflict  here.  A  free  church 
"works  without  obstruction  in  a  free  state  ;  and  the  in- 
telligence, constancy,  and  fidelity  to  principle,  which 
the  Chiu'ch  inculcates  and  fosters,  constitute  the  best 
guarantee  for  the  stability  and  security  of  a  people's 
government.  No  man  can  possibly  forecast  the  futiu-e, 
but  it  is  not  too  much  to  hope  that,  with  the  gI•o^ving 
and  consolidating  Republic,  there  "will  also  advance  and 
prosper  a  Presbyterian  Chm-ch,  whose  influence  shall 
bind  together  and  bless  these  United  States. 

For  one  can  see  no  reason  to  anticipate  any  material 
changes  in  the  forms  or  methods  of  oirr  Church.  Oxu* 
bi-ethren  of  other  denominations,  as  it  seems  to  us,  find 
it  wise  and   proper  to    adopt  methods —  to  say  the 


THE   FUTUEE   CmTRCH.  669 

least  —  very  like  oui's,  when  they  msh  to  extend  their 
church  operations.  The  best  and  most  evangelical 
Episcopal  missionary  society  has  as  little  to  do  with 
the  bishops  as  it  can.  The  "Union"  of  our  valued 
Congregational  brethren  in  England,  or  here,  looks  to  us 
—  and  we  regard  it  only  with  kindly  interest  —  like 
"  feeling  after  "  our  method  of  concerted  action.  So, 
when  times  of  revival  have  come,  the  free  worship  for 
which  we  have  always  contended  becomes  natural  to 
many  who  declined  it  before,  and  men  pray  as  the 
Sj^tirit  gives  them  utterance.  No  amount  of  religious 
earnestness,  so  far  as  we  can  see,  ^vill  render  om*  ma 
chinery  useless,  or  om*  forms  of  worship  obsolete.  The 
current  of  sj^iritual  life  cannot  become  so  deep  that 
our  system  shall  have  no  channel  for  it.  Let  millenni- 
al knowledge  and  peace  come  in,  and  the  simple  forms 
of  our  Church  mil  well  avail  for  the  expression  and 
culture  of  religious  feeling.  When  "  the  people  shall  be 
all  righteous,"  they  can  be  safely  trusted  to  "  look  out 
among  them  "  men  of  good  report  for  places  in  the 
Church.  "When  mutual  love  is  fervent,  free  men  can 
meet  and  confer  without  collision  of  temper,  or  viola- 
tion of  the  unity  of  the  Spirit.  The  supremacy  of 
Grod's  Word,  the  Headship  of  Christ  over  His  Chmx-h 
and  people,  the  brotherhood  and  parity  of  His  minis- 
ters, and  His  constant  presence  with  His  Church  by  the 
Holy  Ghost,  who  energizes  her  effort  and  makes  effec- 
tual the  means  of  grace  —  these  doctrines,  for  which 
the  Presbyterian  Church  has  ever  been  a  ^vitness,  will 
not  dwindle  into  insignificance  in  that  coming  and  glo- 
rious time,  when  "  the  mountain  of  the  Lord's  house 


670  PPtESBYTEEIAX    CLIUllCn. 

shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the  moiuitaius,  and 
when  all  nations  shall  flow  unto  it "  —  a  period  of  glory 
and  blessedness  into  which,  we  believe,  wdll  extend  the 
future  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a  period  for 
the  speedy  approach  of  which  it  is  her  duty  and  her 
honor  to  pray  and  labor. 


h 

o 

> 

5 


THE  MEMORIAL  FUND. 


£ammitie{  m  i\t  j|cmorial   Imtd 


WINTHEOP  S.   GILMAI^, 
JOHnS"  CEOSBT  BEOWN", 
JOHN  E.  PAESONS, 
ALEXANDEE  WHILLDIN", 
BENJAMIN  F.  BUTLER, 
WILLIAM  T.  BOOTH, 
AECHIBALD  McCLUEE,  Jb., 
ISAAC  SCAEEITT, 
GEOEGE  JUNKIN.  " 


©jficcrs  of  tljc  €0mtmttee. 


WINTHEOP  S.  OILMAN,  Chairman. 

Hon.  WILLIAM  E.  DODGE,  Treasurer. 

Ebv.  FEANK  F.  ELLINWOOD,  D.D.,  Oorresj}ondi7ig  See'?/. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


T  U  E     Sr  E  51  O  11 1  A  L     FUND. 

Peeambles  and  Resolutions  Presented  my  Pev.  Samuel  W. 
Fisher,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  and  Adopted  in  Joint  Convention 
BY  THE  Members  of  the  Two  Assetsiblies,  Pittsburgh, 
November  12,  1869. 

In  the  Providence  of  God,  the  two  Brandies  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  after  a  sepa- 
ration of  more  than  thirty  years,  are  again  united,  1'his  event, 
in  its  magnitude,  is  unparalleled  in  the  ecclesiastical  history  of 
this  country,  and  almost  of  the  world.  It  evidences  to  all  men 
the  presence  and  unifying  power  of  the  Divine  Spirit.  A  fact 
so  remarkable  and  significant  attracts  interest  and  creates  ex- 
pectation among  even  worldly  minds.  It  aAvakens  the  sym- 
pathies and  the  hopes  of  all  who  truly  love  Christ  among  other 
denominations.  It  awakens  hope,  since  it  illustrates  the  evident 
purpose  of  God  to  bring  all  his  followers  into  closer  union  in 
spirit,  combine  them  in  action  for  the  overthrow  of  error  and 
the  diffusion  of  his  truth  ;  it  awakens  expectation,  since  they 
justly  anticipate  on  our  part,  from  this  union  of  resources, 
spirit,  and  action,  a  far  more  vigorous  assault  upon  the  forces 
of  darkness,  and  more  decided  efforts  to  spread  the  Gospel 
among  all  classes  in  our  own  and  other  lands. 

To  us,  as  a  Church,  it  is  an  era  in  our  history  most  memor- 
able and  hopeful ;  memorable,  as  it  signalizes  the  triumph  of 
faith  and  love  over  the  strifes  and  jealousies  of  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century ;  hopeful,  since  it  is  not  the  result  of  de- 
cadence and  torpor,  but  of  progress  and  augmented  strength. 
It  buries  the  suspicions  and  the  rivalries  of  the  past,  wnth  the 
sad  necessity  of  magnifying  our  differences  in  order  to  justify 
our  separation.  It  banishes  the  spirit  of  division,  the  natural 
foe  of  true  progress.  In  this  union  are  seen  the  outflashing  of 
a  divine  purpose  to  lead  us  on  to  greater  self-sacrifice,  and  a 
more  entire  consecration  to  the  evangelization  of  the  world. 
God  has  elevated  us  to  this  commanding  position,  that  we  may 
see  His  glory,  and  in  the  strengthened  faith  it  inspires  devote 
our  united  resources  more  directly  and  efficiently  to  the  sal- 
vation of  men.  New  and  grander  responsibilities  rest  upon  us. 
Jesus  summons  us  to  a  holier  faith  and  more  perfect  consecra- 
tion. He  summons  this  Church  to  answer  his  loving  kindness 
by  deeds  commensurate  with  our  renewed  resources.  The 
times  are  auspicious ;  everywhere  peace  reigns;  the  gates  are 
open,  and  the  miilions  of  our  own  and  other  lands  wait  for  the 
Gospel.  Our  position  is  commanding;  our  resources  great* 
43 


674  PllESBYTEUIAT^    CIIUKCII. 

our  methods  of  action  well  settled,  simple,  and  efficient.  The 
Spirit  of  God  that  has  united  us  will  inspire,  direct,  an<l  bless 
our  efforts.  Wliile  we  maintain  the  faith  which  Paul  so  fully 
unfolded,  and  our  Church,  in  the  centuries  past,  has,  through 
manifold  persecution  and  martyrdom,  so  gloriously  upheld,  we 
are  summoned,  as  by  the  will  of  God,  to  arise  and  build,  to 
form  new,  broader,  and  bolder  plans  for  the  extension  of  Christ's 
kingdom,  ajid  to  enter  upon  and  execute  them  with  apostolic 
enthusiasm. 

Let  us,  then,  the  ministers,  elders,  and  members  of  this 
Church  here  assembled,  as  in  spirit  standing  in  the  presence 
of  and  representing  the  entire  body  of  believers  in  our  connec- 
tion, and  the  beloved  missionaries  in  foreign  lands,  who  now 
await  with  tender  and  prayerful  interest  this  consummation  ot 
our  union — let  us,  in  humble  dependence  upon  our  dear  Re- 
deemer, with  deep  humility,  in  view  of  our  past  inefficiency 
and  present  unworthiness,  and  as  an  expression  of  our  devout 
gratitude  to  Him  who  has  brought  this  once  dissevered,  now 
united,  Church  up  to  this  Iloimt  of  Transfiguration,  signalize 
this  most  blessed  and  joyous  %inion  with  an  offering  in  some 
good  degree  commensurate  with  the  abundant  pecuniary  gifts 
that  He  has  bestowed  on  us.     And,  to  this  end,  be  it 

Re&olved,  That  it  is  incumbent  on  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America,  one  in  organization,  one  in 
faith,  and  one  in  effort,  to  make  a  special  offering  to  the  treas- 
ury of  the  Lord  of  Five  Millions  of  Dollars:  and  we  pledge 
ourselves,  first  of  all,  to  seek  in  our  daily  petitions  the  blessing 
of  God  to  make  this  resolution  eftectual ;  and  second,  that  we 
will,  with  untiring  perseverance  and  personal  effort,  endeavor 
to  animate  the  wliole  Church  with  the  purpose  to  secure  the 
accomplishment  of  this  great  work  before  the  third  Thursday 
of  May,  1871. 

Resolved,  further.  That  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the  Assemblies 
of  18C)9  be  requested  to  publish  this  paper,  with  the  names  of  t*lie 
Moderators,  Clerks,  the  Joint  Committee  on  Reunion,  and  the 
Commissioners  now  in  attendance,  appended  thereto. 

This  action  was  by  common  understanding  rather  than  by 
formal  vote  referred  to  the  Joint  Committee  on  Finance,  and 
they  were  expected  to  report  to  the  United  Assembly  in  May, 
1870,  at  Philadelphia. 

The  Joint  Committee  consisted  of  the  following  persons. — 
Rev.  John  Hall,  D.D.  Hon.  William  E.  Dodge. 

Rev.  Chas.  K.  Imbrie,  D.D.    Hon.  William  Strong. 
Hon.  Robert  McKnight.        Rev,  Jonathan  F.  Stearns,  D.D. 
Hon.  llovEY  K.  ('larke.        Rev.  William  H.  Goodrich,  D.D. 
Mr.  W.  S.  Gilman.  Rev.  Charles  Hawley,  D.D. 


MEMORIAL    FUND.  675 

It  was  also  understood  that  Hon.  William  E.  Dodge  sliould 
be  anthorized,  as  Treasurer  of  the  Fund,  to  open  books  imme- 
diately for  the  receipt  and  recording  of  offerings. 

KePORT  or  THE  JoraT    CoMMITTEE  ON    FiNANCE   RELATING  TO  THE 

Memorial  Fund,  as  Amended  and  Adopted  by  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  at  Philadelphia,  May,  1870. 

The  Joint  Committee  M-as  called  into  existence  by  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  Reunion  : — 

'"'■ -Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  live  from  each  branch  of  the 
Church  be  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the  subject  of 
raising  funds  for  the  use  of  the  United  Church,  and  tiie  best 
methods  of  doing  the  same,  and  the  objects  to  which  the  same 
should  be  directed,  and  to  report  to  the  next  General  As- 
sembly." 

The  Convention  of  the  United  Churches  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa., 
further  agreed,  with  enthusiasm,  to  the  following  resolution  : — 

'■''Resolved,  That  it  is  incumbent  on  the  Presbyterian  Churcli 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  one  in  organization,  one  in 
faith,  and  one  in  effort,  to  make  a  special  offering  to  the  treas- 
ury of  the  Lord,  of  Five  Millions  of  Dollars:  and  we  pledge 
ourselves,  first  of  all,  to  seek  in  our  daily  petitions  the  blessing 
of  God  to  make  this  resolution  effectual ;  and  second,  that  we 
will,  with  untiring  persev^erance  and  personal  effort,  endeavor 
to  animate  the  whole  Church  with  the  purpose  to  secure  the  ac- 
complishment of  this  great  work  before  the  third  Thursday  of 
May,  1871." 

The  action  of  the  Committee  upon  these  resolutions  is  here- 
with submitted. 

On  the  subject  of  the  Five  Million  Memorial  Fund,  the  Joint- 
Committee  (all  the  members  being  present  but  two,  who  were 
hindered  by  unavoidable  engagements),  after  most  careful  and 
anxious  deliberation,  agreed  unanimously  upon  the  following 
resolutions : — 

1.  That,  notwithstanding  we  find,  on  examination,  that  the 
terms  of  the  resolution  adopted  on  the  subject  by  the  General 
Assemblies  recently  met  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  do  not  distinctly 
enjoin  the  duty  of  raising  the  proposed  "Memorial  Fund" 
upon  this  Joint  Committee  ;  3^et,  being  fully  persuaded  that  the 
general  voice  and  expectation  of  the  Church  have  determined 
that  this  service  fairly  belongs  to  the  Committee ;  and,  further, 
inasmuch  as  t\inds  for  this  object  have  ali'cady  been  tendered 
to  us,  we  assume  this  to  be  a  duty  embraced  within  tlie  inten- 
tion of  the  Assemblies  in  our  appointment;  and  therefore  we 
conclude  to  initiate  this  work  at  once,  and  to  conduct  it  until 
the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly. 


676  PRESBYTERIA-N-    CHUKCn. 

2.  That,  in  the  judgment  of  this  Joint  Committee,  it  is  not 
witliin  the  intention  of  the  Church  to  inchide  in  this  fund  the 
ordinary  contributions  to  tlje  Church's  stated  work  (which  in 
our  new  position  should  be  greatly  advanced),  but  to  create  and 
strengthen  permanent  institutions  at  home  and  abroad,  to  nieet 
such  extraordinary  claims  as  arise  out  of  our  new  position,  and 
to  effect  such  objects  as  properly  commemorate  our  union.  By 
these  we  mean — 

I.  Theological  seminaries,  colleges,  and  seminaries  for  the 
education  of  our  daughters,  including  buildings  and  endow- 
ments of  the  same  ;  it  being  understood  that  such  institutions 
shall  be  chartered,  and  shall  be  in  connection  with  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

II.  Literary  institutions  for  the  raising  of  a  native  Gospel 
ministry  in  heathen  lands. 

III.  Church  buildings  and  manses  originating  subsequently 
to  the  Union,  and  otherwise  entitled  to  public  aid;  hospitals 
and  orphan  asylums  in  connection  with  the  Church. 

ly.  Institutions  for  the  education  and  evangelization  of 
Freedmen. 

y.  Special  contributions  for  the  establishment  of  a  perma- 
nent Sustentation  Fund,  which  shall  include  funds  to  be  appro- 
priated for  the  support  of  disabled  ministers  and  their  families. 

At  the  same  time  the  Connnittee  announced  that  the  lion. 
"William  E.  Dodge,  as  Treasurer,  in  accordance  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Convention,  would  receive  donations  for  these 
objects,  and  donations  to  be  applied  hereafter,  at  the  discretion 
of  the  General  Assembl}-. 

These  resolutions  were  extensively  published,  and  while 
much  diversity  of  view  appears  to  prevail  regarding  details, 
their  leading  principle  appears  to  have  secured  general  accept- 
ance, and  in  various  quarters  efforts  have  been  inaugurated  in 
accordance  with  it. 

The  Committee  having  considered  what  practical  measures 
should  be  suggested  to  the  General  Assembly,  with  a  view  to 
realizing  the  Five  Million  Memorial  Fund  before  the  third 
Thursday  in  May,  1871,  according  to  a  resolution  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh Convention, 

It  was  unanimously  agreed  to  recommend — 

1st.  The  appointment  of  a  Committee  for  the  raising  and 
disposition  of  this  fund,  subject  to  the  principles  now  agreed 
upon. 

2d.  That  this  Committee  shall  examine  the  claims  of  particu- 
lar institutions  seeking  to  enjoy  the  benefit  of  the  fund,  either 
by  direct  appropriation  or  their  own  efforts,  the  results  of  which 
are  reckoned  as  part  of  the  fund. 


ME3I0RIAL   FU:rTD.  677 

3d.  That,  in  addition  to  other  cfibrts,  a  collection  be  made 
in  all  our  con2;regations,  as  nearly  simultaneously  as  practi- 
cable, dnrinjr  the  month  of  January,  1871,  when  the  ministers, 
having  prepared  the  way  by  keeping  the  subject  constantly 
before  the  people  in  the  interval,  shall  more  especially  urge  tha 
contribution  upon  them. 

4th.  That  the  Committee,  constituted  by  the  first  resolution, 
be  instructed  to  prepare  and  forward  to  each  congregation 
through  the  pastor,  stated  supply,  or  session,  to  be  laid  before 
each  member  of  the  congregation,  a  clear,  distinct,  and  minute 
plan  for  subscribing,  reportiiig,  collecting,  and  forxoarcling  the 
amounts  contributed  to  this  fund,  and  also  to  prepare  and  send 
suitable  blanks  for  these  purposes. 

5th.  That  our  Presbyteries  and  Synods  be  instructed,  at 
their  fall  meetings,  to  make  careful  inquiry  of  each  pastor  and 
elder,  and  know  if  these  subscriptions  have  been  presented 
to  the  individuals  of  all  our  congregations ;  and  in  cases  of 
failure  to  take  such  measures  as  may  best  secure  this  result. 

The  following  Committee  was  appointed  the  Committee  on 
the  Memorial  Fund : — 

Messrs.  Winthrop  S.  Oilman,  J.  Crosby  Brown,  John  E. 
Parsons,  Alexander  "Whilldin,  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Isaac  Scar- 
ritt,  William  T.  Booth,  Archibald  McClure,  Jr.,  and  George 
Junkin. 

Peception  of  the  Memorial  Peport    by  the  General  As- 
sembly AT  Chicago,  May  23d,  1871. 

At  three  o'clock  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  the  order  of  the 
day  receiving  the  report  on  the  Memorial  Fund  was  taken 
up.  A  considerable  audience  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  besides 
that  usually  in  attendence,  had  filled  the  house  in  all  parts. 
Mr.  Winthrop  S.  Gilman,  of  New  York,  the  Chairman  of  the 
Committee,  was  introduced  by  the  Moderator,  amid  applause, 
and  said  : — 

I  rise  to  make  some  explanation  before  the  reading  of  the 
report.  You  gave  us  that  privilege  a  day  or  two  since,  in  the 
passage  of  the  resolution  to  hear  the  report  this  afternoon. 
I  want  to  say  that  in  the  progress  of  the  work,  we  have,  as  a 
Committee,  sometimes  had  our  dark  days,  have  met  with  much 
that  is  discouraging,  and  it  seemed  as  though  God,  in  His  provi- 
dence,'was  about  to  do  with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  that 
which  He  often  does  in  His  wonder-working  ways — disappoint 
the  earnest  expectation  of  His  people,  and  cause  them  to  feel 
humbled  before  Him  by  failure. 

But  as  the  work  progressed^  and  when  it  came  M'ithin  five  oi 


678  PRESBYTKKIAN    CHURCH. 

six  weeks  of  completion,  as  we  hoped,  and  we  had  less  than  a 
million  of  dollars  upon  our  books,  we  at  the  same  time  lost  all 
sense  of  apprehension.  The  view  we  had  of  the  feeling  through- 
out the  union  ;  the  evidences  of  the  influences  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  touching  one  heart  and  another,  were  so  manifest  that 
we  lost  all  anxiety,  and  rested  in  the  hands  of  God,  perfectly 
willing.  I  speak  on  behalf  of  my  brethren  and  myself  when  I 
say  that  we  were  perfectly  willing  that  it  should  be  but  three 
or  four  millions  of  dollars,  if  God  so  pleased.  If  you  could 
look  into  the  correspondence  that  has  come  before  the  Com- 
mittee, you  would  see  in  the  incidents — the  repeated  incidents 
of  the  greatest  interest,  especially  among  the  poor,  the  offer- 
ings of  the  poor,  their  prayers  and  their  self-denial — you  would 
see  that  which  would  lead  you  to  say  that  the  salt  of  a  divine 
savor  was  bestowed  upon  it  in  answer  to  our  prayers.  And 
especially  I  would  congratulate  you,  my  brethren,  that  in  the 
first  act  of  the  reunited  body  we  agreed  that  it  was  incumbent 
upon  the  Presbyterian  Church  to  make  a  special  offering  of 
Five  Millions  of  Dollars  to  the  treasury  of  the  Lord,  and  the 
saving  clause  was  put  in:  '"And  we  pledge  ourselves  in  our 
daily  prayers  to  seek  the  blessing  of  God  that  this  resolution 
may  be  eflectual."  It  is  the  prayers — the  widow's  prayers,  the 
orphan's  prayers,  the  prayers  of  the  poor — their  self-denial, 
and  the  combined  influence  of  the  whole  Church,  that  have 
brought  this  act  to  its  consummation.  And  it  teaches  us  a 
very  great  lesson  in  the  spiritual  profit  to  the  Church.  The 
whole  interest  concentrates,  to  my  mind,  in  this  fact — the 
spiritual  benefit  to  the  Church  of  God. 

I  will  not  go  on  with  any  incidents,  though  they  are  very 
moving,  for  I  know  you  are  impatient  to  hear  the  report.  I 
will  only  mention  the  rigid  course  that  this  Committee  has 
taken  in  counting  the  offerings  of  the  Church.  In  many  cases 
clergymen  have  sent  us  a  report  stating :  "  We  have  contributed 
BO  much  for  general  purposes,  so  much  for  our  home  objects," 
and  below  the  signature  would  be  found  written,  "  And  we 
have  also  paid  $7,000  on  a  church  debt  which  you  may  count 
in  if  you  see  proper."  No,  no,  my  friends,  it  is  the  intent  of 
the  giver  that  bestows  the  Memorial  quality,  and  we  have  act- 
ed upon  the  principle  that  if  the  Churcli  felt  any  doubt  whether 
they  consecreated  it  to  Christ  we  would  mark  it  oft",  and  we  have 
laid  aside  many  and  many  such  subscriptions.  Again,  in  the 
great  variety  of  views  entertained  by  individuals  in  making  a 
free-will  offering  to  God,  of  course  there  would  be  a  vast  num- 
ber of  offerings,  just  outside  the  line,  which  we  could  not  count. 
I  will  instance  one  of  them.  A  gentleman  on  the  Hudson 
liiver  wanted  to  make  one  of  his  princely  donations  in  a  Me- 


MEMOEIAL    FUND.  679 

morial  gift  of  $30,000  to  a  theolocrical  seminarv  ;  but  his  inter- 
est concentrated  chiefly  in  the  theological  seminary  of  Virgi- 
nia, where  our  Southern  brethren  congregate.  He  gave  it'to 
that  institution — claiming  that  it  was  a  Memorial  offering,  ac- 
ceptable, no  doubt,  to  God,  as  anything  in  our  treasury.  'But 
we  could  not  count  it.  This  was  the  Memorial  offering  of 
our  oMm  Church.  (Applause.)  I  will  not  detain  you  longer 
(I  know  you  must  be  impatient),  only  to  introduce  to  you  our 
Secretary,  well  known  to  all,  the  Eev.  Dr.  Ellinwood,  who  will 
now  read  the  report ;  and  you  will  be  assured  by  it  that  the 
Church  has  fullilled  her  promise  to  consecrate  $5,000,000  to 
the  treasury  of  the  Lord. 

BEADING    OF   THE    KEPOKT. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Committee,  the  Rev.  F.  F.  Ellinwood, 
D.D.,  of  New  York,  presented  the  report.     It  is  as  follows  : — 

Report  of  the  Presbyterian  Memorial  Committee,  Mat,  1871 . 

The  Committee  appointed  to  raise  and  disburse  the  Five 
Million  Memorial  Fund  was  organized  at  47  Exchange  Place, 
New  York,  June  17, 1870,  the  Chairman,  WinthropS,  Oilman, 
presiding.  It  was  resolved  that  Hon.  Wm.  E.  Dodge  be  re- 
quested to  continue  the  ofHce  of  Treasurer,  and  Rev.  F.  F.  Ellin- 
wood was  appointed  Corresponding  Secretary  for  one  year,  for 
the  general  supervision  of  the  work.  Steps  were  immediately 
taken  to  lay  before  the  churches  a  distinct  plan  for  subscribing, 
collecting,  reporting,  and  remitting  their  offerings  according  to 
the  direction  of  the  Assembly. 

The  Committee  learned  that  during  the  interval  between  the 
passage  of  the  original  resolution  at  Pittsburgh  and  the  final 
ratification  at  Philadelphia,  only  about  $1,900  had  been  con- 
tributed to  the  Central  Treasury,  though  beginnings  had  been 
made  in  various  forms  of  home  work  among  the  churches. 

The  greater  part  of  the  $5,000,000  was  yet  to  be  raised,  and 
eleven  months  remained  for  the  work. 

The  small  amount  which  had  thus  far  been  contributed,  the 
wide  differences  of  opinion  in  the' Church  as  to  the  uses  M'hich 
should  be  made  of  the  fund,  and  the  general  demand  that  the 
people  should  be  allowed  to  judge  of  the  wisdom  and  necessity 
of  their  own  disbursements,  rendered  it  plain  that  success  could 
be  attained  only  by  adopting  a  policy  as  liberal  as  the  instruc- 
tions of  tlie  Assembly  would  permit. 

The  great  object  in  view,  as  the  Committee  conceived  it,  was 
to  render  memorable  the  Presbyterian  Reunion  by  an  enlarge- 
ment and  strengthening  of  all  the  structural  interests  of  the 
Church  as  a  permanent  token  of  gratitude  to  God. 


680  PRESBYTEEIAIf  CIIUECH. 

The  motive  of  liighest  utility  must  be  coupled  with  that  of 
commemoration. 

Even  aside  fro\ia  the  question  of  what  was  feasible  and  what 
Avas  not, — of  what  might  succeed  and  what  would  inevitably 
fail, — it  seemed  more  important  to  secure  the  greatest  possible 
advancement  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  than  to  present  impos- 
ing results  before  men.  Evidently  no  committee  could  realize 
so  large  an  amount  as  five  millions  of  dollars  without  seeking 
the  co-operation  and  subsidizing  the  manifold  interests  of  the 
whole  Church.  Each  Synod  and  each  Presbytery  must  take 
up  its  own  work  ;  every  institution  of  learning  must  stimulate 
the  exertions  of  its  alumni  and  its  local  friends,  and  every  feeble 
congregation  must  seize  the  opportunity  both  of  quickening  its 
own  efforts  and  of  gaining  help  from  others.  The  Committee 
have,  therefore,  from  the  first,  endeavored  to  provoke  the  dili- 
gence of  the  churches  in  those  forms  of  work,  within  the  pre- 
scribed classes,  which  in  their  judgment  should  present  the 
strongest  claim  to  theii-  liberality.  They  have,  however,  urged 
particularly  the  general  objects  named  by  the  Assembly,  and 
have  invariably  presented  the  highest  and  most  spiritual  mo- 
tives. As  far  as  possible  the  Committee  have  been  pei'sonally 
represented  in  the  various  Synods  and  in  union  meetings  of  the 
churches  in  the  larger  towns.  In  order  to  secure  the  more 
thorough  co-operation  of  the  West  and  Nortliwest,  Rev.  A.  G. 
Ruliffson  was,  on  the  1st  of  August,  appointed  Western  Secre- 
tary for  the  remainder  of  the  fiscal  year ;  and  the  Committee 
have  had  abundant  reason  to  rejoice  in  the  results  of  that  ap- 
pointment. 

In  regard  to  the  range  of  objects  contemplated  in  this  Avork, 
the  brief  outline  recommended  by  the  former  Committee  of  Ten ^ 
and  adopted  by  the  last  Assembly,  has  proved  to  be  eminently 
wise,  both  in  its  comprehensiveness  and  in  its  limitations.  It 
confined  the  effort  to  the  main  departments  of  structural  and 
permanent  interests,  and  yet  forbore  to  enter  into  details  which 
could  not  have  been  judiciously  imposed  beforehand,  and  which 
could  only  have  exerted  a  discouraging  and  repressive  infiuence. 
The  structural  objects  which  were  indicated  by  the  Assembly, 
were  of  five  classes,  viz. :  Churches,  Manses,  Literary  and 
Theological  Institutions  at  Home  and  Abroad,  Hospitals  con- 
nected with  the  Church,  and  Houses  for  the  Use  of  the  Boards. 

AVHiat  proportion  of  the  aggregate  fund  should  be  allotted 
to  each  of  these  classes  the  Assembly  did  not  state;  nor  has 
the  Connnittee  felt  authorized  to  decide.  If  one  class  has  been 
found  to  absorb  too  much,  and  another  has  received  too  little, 
it  is  but  an  inevitable  result  of  that  discretionary  freedom  which 
the  plan  necessarily  involved.     To  these  permanent  objects,  as 


MEJIOrJAL    FUXD.  081 


di&tinguished  from  all  current  work,  the  Committee  have  en- 
deavored to  coniine  the  effort,  allowuig  only  such  expansions  as 
were  conceived  to  exist  in  the  spirit  of  this  movement  as  iirst 
proposed.  If  in  the  practical  exigencies  of  so  many  churches, 
seeming  changes  have  appeared  in  the  plan,  they  have  been 
only  those  of  natural  and  necessarj^  development,  as  the  bulb 
is  transformed  to  a  rooted  plant. 

Thus  the  principle  which  admits  a  complete  institution  must 
be  so  ramified  as  to  cover  all  its  parts.  If  the  friends  of  a  par- 
ticular college,  variously  offer  endowments,  new  buildings, 
scholarships,  libraries,  repairs,  cancelled  mortages,  and  grants  of 
land,  they  must,  of  logical  necessity,  be  included,  though  in 
the  outset  no  such  variety  had  occurred  to  any  mind.  So  of 
churches,  if  one  congregation  find  acceptance  for  a  new  sanctu- 
ary complete  in  all  its  parts  and  appurtenances,  no  pri)iciple  of 
justice  can  exclude  the  poorer  flock  who  can  only  offer  a  part 
of  a  church,  as  an  enlargement,  or  a  new  roof,  or  an  organ,  or 
a  bell,  or  even  a  liorse-shed  or  a  fence. 

It  is  true,  that  by  such  a  rule  some  luimble  objects  are  includ- 
ed ;  but  He  who,  in  the  construction  of  his  ancient  sanctuary, 
invited  even  such  offei'ings  as  a  ram's  skin  or  a  little  goat's  hair, 
does  not  despise  an  humble  gift.  It  is  a  beautiful  feature  of 
our  common  Memorial,  that  it  has  harmoniously  combined  the 
efforts  of  the  wealthy  and  the  poor.  The  affluent  have  given 
their  tens  of  thousands,  and  with  equal  acceptance  the  toiling 
needlewoman  has  oft'ered  joyfully  her  mite ;  the  merchant 
prince  has  drawn  his  check,  and  the  converted  Indian  on  tiie 
frontier  has  given  his  honest  score  of  days'  work  upon  the  walls 
of  God's  house. 

It  is  inevitable  that  the  general  principles  governing  so  great 
an  undertaking  should  sometimes  be  abused.  How  could  it  be 
otherwise,  when  so  much  of  worldly  motive  mingles  with  all 
the  benevolence  and  all  the  services  of  the  Church.  The  Me- 
morial work  has  doubtless  been  marred  by  as  many  exhibitions 
of  a  selfish  spirit  as  appear  in  other  things  ;  but  the  degree  ot 
selfishness  has  nrt  always  been  measured  by  mere  localitj^  nor 
by  the  kind  of  Memorial  object  chosen.  Hundreds  of  the 
noblest  instances  of  self-sacrifice  have  been  shown  in  humble 
congregations,  which  were  struggling  to  secure  a  sanctuary  fur 
themselves  and  their  neighbors  about  them.  A  voluminous 
record  might  be  given  of  incidents  and  illustrations  of  the  most 
touching  character,  and  aftbrding  ample  proof  that  many  have 
found  the  Memorial  work  a  precious  means  of  grace. 

While  pursuing  a  liberal  policy  in  admitting  the  gifts  of  the 
churches,  the  Committee  have  confined  their  own  direct  dis- 
bursements to  objects  of  a  general  character,  and  those  of  the 


G82  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

most  pressing  need.  They  have  had  no  desire  to  secure  any 
largo  proportion  of  the  fund  to  the  general  treasury,  except  as 
enabling  them  to  meet  this  class  of  wants.  They  would  gladly 
have  accomplished  more  in  this  respect  than  they  have. 

At  a  time  when  very  genei'al  apprehension  existed  lest  the 
Memorial  should  seriously  embarrass  the  Church  Boards,  many 
persons  in  various  parts  of  the  Church  expressed  a  desire  to  de- 
vote their  Memorial  offerings  as  special  donations  for  the  relief 
of  the  Boards.  As  such  gifts  found  no  sanction  in  either  the 
letter  or  the  spirit  of  the  Assembly's  instructions,  the  Commit- 
tee felt  that  they  had  no  authority  in  the  premises,  but  they 
finally  resolved  to  admit  these  special  ofl'erings  in  a  separate 
class,  subject  to  the  action  of  this  Assembly. 

In  the  midst  of  the  apprehensions  just  referred  to,  the  Com- 
mittee have  maintained  a  hopeful  spirit.  They  have  so  con- 
stantly received  assurances  that  the  churches  which  were  do- 
ing most  fur  the  Memorial  were  even  increasing  their  gifts  to 
the  Boards,  that  they  have  felt  confident  that  the  end  of  the 
year  would  show  very  slight  deficits  in  our  regular  benevolences, 
if  any  at  all.  And  it  is  with  rare  satisfaction  and  gratitude 
that  they  now  find  that  confidence  fully  justified. 

Comparing  the  reports  of  the  Boards  just  rendered  to  this 
Assembly  with  those  presented  a  year  ago,  and  confining  the 
estimate  to  the  actual  gifts  of  churches  and  individuals,  as  dis- 
tinguished from  legacies  and  other  casual  resoiu'ces,  they  find 
the  receipts  of  the  United  Boards,  compared  with  the  aggregates 
of  the  Separate  Boards  of  the  two  branches  last  year,  to  present 
the  following  gains  as  compared  with  last  3'ear : — 

Home  Missions,  gain  over  last  year,  (§16, 297.25  ;  Church 
Erection,  gain  about  $20,000  ;  Education,  deficit,  $964 ;  Pub- 
lication, deficit,  $9,888  ;  Freedmen,  gain  about  $500;  Minis- 
terial Eelief,  gain,  $13,687.27  ;  Foreign  Missions,  gain,  $37,- 
296.89  ;  Aggregate  gain  of  all  the  Boards,  $76,502.89. 

It  should  be  stated  that  the  gains  in  the  Foreign  Board  are 
mainly  due  to  the  accession  of  churches  formerly  contributing  to 
the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Missions;  but  it  should  also  be 
said  that  there  are  still  considerable  amounts  in  the  Memorial 
Treasury  for  the  Presbyterian  Board  not  included  in  their  report. 

There  are  furthermore  some  differences  in  the  time  of  closing 
the  fiscal  year  of  the  Boards,  as  compared  with  the  previous 
year,  but  these  differences,  together  with  the  fact  that  the  Me- 
morial report  closes  latest  of  all,  will,  on  the  M'hole,  rather 
strengthen  the  exhibit  which  is  here  made,  and  will  fully  es- 
tablish the  important  fact,  that  during  the  Memorial  year 
churches  and  individuals  have  given  a  larger  aggregate  to  the 
Boards  than  in  any  previous  year  of  our  ivJiole  history. 


MEMORIAL    FUND.  G83 

It  may  be  proper  also  to  dwell  for  a  moment  upon  the  direct 
benefit  which  the  Memorial  has  conferred  upon  the  various 
causes  which  the  Boards  represent. 

On  the  Foreign  Mission  field,  permanent  institutions  have 
been  provided  for  to  the  amount  of  nearly  a  hundred  thousand 
dollars. 

In  Church  Erection  on  the  Home  field  a  careful  estimate 
shows  that  al)out  six  hundred  churches  and  chapels  have  been 
reared  during  the  year  and  a  half,  of  which  only  twenty-one 
have  reported  a  cost  of  over  $25,000.  About  three  hundred  of 
these,  including  mission  chapels,  have  directly  or  indirectly  re- 
ceived aid  from  the  Memorial  Fund.  The  amount  which  has 
actually  been  received  into  the  treasurv  for  this  purpose  is  ^Uii,- 
282.93] 

The  cause  of  Publication  has  only  been  l)enefited  in  the  en- 
largement of  the  Publishing  House  to  the  extent  of  about 
$45,300. 

For  the  Freedmen's  cause  less  has  been  done  than  was  desir 
able — only  about  $10,000  having  been  reported  for  schools  and 
churches  devoted  to  their  interests. 

The  cause  of  Ministerial  Relief,  aside  from  special  gifts  al- 
ready estimated  in  its  own  reports,  has  received  some  small 
amounts  for  a  permanent  fund. 

How  far  the  cause  of  Education  has  been  advanced  may  be 
judged  by  the  fact  that  the  Church  has  added  nearly  a  million 
and  a  half  of  dollars  to  her  educational  apparatus  in  various 
permanent  forms. 

The  relation  of  the  Memorial  effort  to  Home  Missions  is  less 
direct,  but  none  the  less  important.  The  recent  report  of  the 
Home  Mission  Board  shows  that  the  churches  under  its  care 
have  raised  $228,627  for  the  payment  of  church  debts.  This 
amount,  at  the  safe  rate  of  eight  per  cent,  interest,  shows  a  saving 
to  the  Mission  Churches,  and  virtually  to  the  Mission  Board, 
of  $18,130  per  annum.  But  the  whole  amount  of  Memorial 
contributions  reported  from  Home  Mission  churches  is  $339,410, 
and  when  we  add  the  large  sums  given  them  by  others  for 
churches,  manses,  and  repairs,  we  shall  have  an  aggregate  in- 
crease of  not  less  than  half  a  million  of  church  property  in  the 
Home  Mission  field, — the  effect  of  which  will  raise  many 
churches  at  once,  or  very  soon,  to  a  position  of  efficiency  and 
self-support.  And,  finally,  the  Memorial  effort  in  all  our 
churches,  rich  and  poor,  by  removing  obstacles  and  enlarging 
foundations  and  quickening  exertion,  has  prejnired  the  way  for 
the  future  work  of  the  various  Boards  beyond  anything  in  tho 
history  of  the  past. 

The  Committee  are  led  to  believe  that  not  the  least  of  the 


684  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

good  results  of  this  effort  has  been  its  rallyino:;  and  unitinfr  in- 
fluence upon  the  denomination.  It  seems  providential  tliat  the 
reunion  shouhl  have  been  folk) wed  by  a  common  and  enthusi- 
astic movement,  overrunning  and  obliterating  all  the  old  lines 
of  separation. 

It  has,  moreover,  strengthened  our  courage  by  the  deveh^p- 
ment  of  important  principles.  It  has  shown  that  there  is 
a  responsive  loyalty  among  us,  to  the  projects  and  behests  of 
the  x\ssembly  ;  it  has  demonstrated  the  important  fact  that  we 
are  a  thoroughly  organized  body,  and  that  by  our  Presbyterian 
polity  even  so  great  a  mass  may  be  marshalled  and  wielded  in 
the  great  work  of  Christian  conquest.  Nor  can  it  be  doubted 
that  the  experiment  of  this  Memorial  year  h^^s,  perinanently  en- 
larged the  scale  of  benevolence  among  us.  Whatever  may  be 
said  of  the  use  which  the  churches  hav-e  made  of  their  gifts, 
the  great  and  notable  fact  is,  that  such  vast  amounts  of  money 
have  been  given  at  all  for  religious  jmrposes,  and  given  mainly 
with  a  sincere  desire  to  accomjilish  the  liighest  good.  It  is  not 
a  light  thing,  that  in  this  worldly  age,  and  amid  the  business 
discouragements  which  have  marked  the  year,  and  with  the 
current  expenditures  of  all  the  churches  still  continued,  and 
with  seven  regular  boards  to  be  maintained  in  full  operation, 
so  many  extra  millions  of  dcdlars  should  have  been  ci:>ntributed 
for  the  permanent  interests  of  Christ's  kingdom.  The  fact  it- 
self is  the  best  possible  monument  of  reunion.  The  spectacle 
of  such  a  movement  is  full  of  encouragement  and  hope. 

And  lest  it  should  be  said  by  any  tliat  these  are  not  extra 
amounts  ;  but  that  we  have  only  recorded  the  average  structural 
w^ork  of  average  years,  the  Committee  have  been  at  some  pains 
to  learn  what  has  been  done  outside  of  the  Memorial  reckoning; 
and  they  lind  that  by  the  common  impulse,  which,  even  under 
protest,  could  not  wholly  be  resisted,  more  than  two  millions  ot 
dollars,  not  included  in  this  report,  has  been  raised  during  the 
Memorial  period  for  the  same  kinds  of  work.  There  is  abun- 
dant proof  that  the  five  millions  which  it  was  resolved  to  raise, 
may  be  set  down  as  a  clear  gain  above  all  previous  years  of  our 
history  as  a  Church.  The  Committee  are  free  to  confess  that 
even  their  highest  hopes  have  been  more  than  realized  in  this 
respect.  And  when  they  contrast  the  discouragements  that 
hung  over  their  early  efforts,  witli  the  general  response  that  has 
at  length  been  given,  they  are  impressed  with  the  fact  that  the 
result  is  due  not  to  skilful  management,  nor  to  faithful  labors, 
nor  to  any  human  influence,  l)ut  to  the  special  power  of  the 
Spirit  of  (rod  moving  so  many  hearts  in  all  parts  of  the  laud 
to  a  counnon  eflbrt. 

It  is  due  to  some  of  the  best  men  in  the  Church,  who  from 


MEMORIAL    FUND.  685 

tlie  first  have  doubted  the  policy  of  such  a  movement,  to  say 
that  they  liave  nevertlieless,  in  other  ways,  helped  forward  the 
cause  of  Christ  in  proportionate  degrees.  It  is  partly  owing 
to  the  special  efforts  of  such  that  the  Boards  have  been  so  well 
(sustained.  The  Committee  rejoice  in  their  labors  also,  nay, 
and  will  rejoice  since  every  way  God  is  glorified. 

In  reviewing  the  labors  of  the  year  the  Committee  take 
much  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  great  assistance  afforded 
them  by  the  weekly  religious  press  of  the  denomination.  Per- 
haps never  before  has  the  power  of  the  religious  press  in  pro- 
moting great  Church  enterprises  been  so  fnlly  illustrated.  To 
human  view  it  is  difiicult  to  see  how,  without  this  valuable 
aofency,  the  work  of  the  Committee  could  have  been  accom- 
])lished..  To  The  Evangelist^  The  Presbyterian ^  The  Interior^ 
The  Observer,  The  Herald  and  Pre  shy  ter,  The  Banner,  and  The 
Occident,  the  thanks  not  only  of  the  Committee  but  of  the 
whole  Church  are  due  for  their  efiicient  aid.  The  Committee 
would  also  make  grateful  mention  of  the  fact  that  furnished 
otHces  have  been  placed  at  their  disposal  during  the  year  by 
Phelps,  Dodge  &  Co.,  and  that  similar  courtesies  were  tender- 
ed them  by  Brown  Brothers  &  Co.,  and  others  in  New  York. 

In  presenting  the  actual  statistics  of  the  work,  it  should  be 
premised  that,  owing  to  the  tardiness  of  the  returns  from  many 
churches,  our  report  is  necessarily  incomplete.  Much  work 
known  to  have  been  accomplished  is  too  late  for  this  presenta- 
tion. Some  of  the  returns  also  have  been  so  indistinct  that  a 
satisfactory  comparison  of  college  reports  with  those  of  churches, 
with  a  view  to  avoiding  repetition,  has  been  wellnigh  impossi- 
ble. And  as  the  Committee  have  preferred  to  err  on  the  safe  side, 
they  have  in  all  cases  of  uncertainty  ruled  out  college  reports, 
though  fully  persuaded  that  by  this  means  $200,000  is  excluded 
from  their  footings.*  Owing  to  the  same  difiiculty  no  account 
has  been  made  of  the  reports  of  special  Memorial  gifts  returned 
by  the  Boards,  and  by  the  Woman's  Societies.  Large  sums, 
also,  gathered  from  individuals  for  churches  in  the  West,  have 
been  excluded  on  account  of  uncertainty,  though  it  is  believed 
that  manj^  of  them  have  not  been  reported  by  donors.  It  was 
the  first  intention  of  the  Committee  to  report  individual  donors 
in  some  cases  by  name ;  but  the  difficulty  of  a  proper  discrim- 
ination has  been  found  to  be  so  great  that  such  names  are  sim- 
ply entered  on  the  Memorial  Records,  while  to  the  public  they 
are  reported  in  the  aggregate,  under  a  general  miscellaneous 
head. 

The  classification  of  money  received  and  reported  thus  far 
is   as    follows  :— For  New  Church  Buildings,  $3,236,475.01 ; 

*Sorae  of  these  have  been  included  in  the  final  footings  given  August  Ist. 


686        •  PRESBYTEKIAT^    CIIURCIL 

Manses,  $683,884.05;  Eepairs  and  Enlarcrement,  $733,707.00: 
Payment  of  Debts,  $1,083,478.72  ;  Institutions  of  Learning,  $1,' 
405,548.66  ;  Permanent  Institutions  in  Foreign  lands,  $93,- 
509.96 ;  Special  Gifts  to  the  Boards.  $60,340.40  ;  Hospitals, 
$48,665.35  ;  Relief  Fund  and  Sustentation,  $41,150.46  ;  Presby- 
terian Houses,  $46,882.37 ;  Amounts  not  specified  by  the 
Churches  reporting  it,  $162,681.10  ;  Expenses  of  the  Commit- 
tee, $11,175.63.  it  is  with  profound  gratitude  to  God  that  the 
Committee  announce  as  the  total  amount  reported  up  to  12 
o'clock  to-dav,  SEVEN  MILLIONS  SIX  HUNDPtED  AND 
SEVEN  THOUSAND  FOUE  HUNDRED  AND  NINETY- 
NINE  DOLLARS  AND  NINETY-ONE  CENTS.* 

Dr.  Ellinwood  said  in  the  course  of  reading  the  report : 

And  here  I  wish  to  say  personally  one  word  which  lam  sure 
our  beloved  and  honored  Chairman  would  never  have  permitted 
me  to  embody  in  this  report.  I  want  the  Assembly  and  the 
Presbyterian  Church  to  know  how  far  we  have  been  indebted 
for  the  success  of  this  work  to  the  faithful  labors  of  Winthrop 
S.  Oilman.  (Applause.)  Even  at  the  risk  of  intruding  upon 
feelings,  the  delicacy  of  which  I  well  know,  I  should  not  feel 
that  I  was  doing  justice  to  myself,  or  to  what  I  regard  as  de- 
manded in  the  case,  if  I  did  not  state  that  nearly  through  the 
whole  year  he  has  labored  side  by  side  with  me  in  duties  proper- 
ly belonging  to  the  secretaryship.  I  feel  that  the  Church  has  a 
sort  of  common  right  in  such  examples,  and  that  they  ought  to 
be  set  on  a  candlestick,  that  others  seeing  them  may  glorify 
our  Father  who  is  in  Heaven.     (Applause.) 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  reading  of  the  Report,  a  hymn 
of  praise  arose  from  all  the  assembly  in  the  building  spontane- 
ously :  "  Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow." 

The  Moderator  then  called  upon  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall,  ol 
New  York,  to  lead  the  Assembly  in  prayer.  There  were  few 
whose  faces  did  not  bear  the  traces  of  the  deepest  emotion, 
while  all  stood  as  thanks  were  returned  to  Heaven. 

PRATER   BY   DR.    JOHN    HALL. 

Our  Father  who  art  in  Heaven,  the  God  and  Father  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  God  of  our  fathers !      We  have  trusted 

*  FvUnrnmrntrepoi-tedAvgnstUt,  1871  :— Clitirches,  $3,.343,952.11 ;  Manses, 
$G91,709.4r) ;  Repairs,  etc.,  $740,200. Co  ;  Payment  of  Debts,  $l,10S,il:^;j.i)l ;  In- 
stitutions of  Learning,  $l,4(J0,(iin.84 ;  Permanent  Institutions  in  Foreign 
Lands,  $94,{)19.98;  Special  Gifts  to  the  Boards,  $02,780.40;  Hospitals, 
$49. 00."). :{■");  Relief  Fund  and  Sustentation.  $44,044.21 ;  Presbyteriar.  Houses, 
$40,SS2.;57;  Amounts  not  designated,  $172,158.00;  Expenses  of  the  Commit- 
tee, $K!,407.98 ;  Total,  $7,833,983.85. 


MEMOEIAL    FUND.  687 


in  Thee,  and  Thouliast  not  suffered  ns  to  be  confounded.  Many 
a  time  we  have  come  to  Thee  with  trembling  lips  and  with 
fainting  hearts  to  oti'er  petitions  and  suj'jplications  with  strong 
crying  ;  and  now,  O  God,  we  come  to  Thee  with  joyful  thanks- 
giving and  hearty  praises  that  we  may  bless  and  magnify  Thy 
holy  Name,  and  adore  Thee  together  as  a  God  that  is  faithful 
and  that  keepeth  covenant,  and  that  doth  not  let  one  word  fall 
to  the  ground  of  all  that  He  hath  spoken  unto  his  people.  Thou 
art  our  God,  and  w^e  will  praise  Thee.  Thou  art  our  fathers' 
God,  and  we  will  magnify  Tliy  holy  Name.  O  God,  we  bless 
Thee  for  what  Thou  hast  done  for  us  as  a  Church.  Thou  hast 
wrought  all  these  works  for  us.  Thou  hast  poured  out  upon  us 
Thy  Spirit.  Thou  hast  helped  us  to  gain  tliis  victory  over  self- 
ishness ;  and  we  bless  Thee  and  pi-aise  Thy  holy  and  adorable 
Name.  O  Lord,  we  acknowledge  before  Thee  that  Thou  givest 
us  the  power  to  get  wealth,  and  Thou  dost  work  within  us  to  will 
and  to  do  of  Thy  good  pleasure. 

For  Thy  raerc}'  in  bringing  us  together ;  for  the  joy  of  our 
happy  reunion  ;  for  the  inspiration  in  our  hearts  leading  us  to 
enter  upon  this  undertaking,  we  bless  Thee  and  praise  Thee 
together  here  to-day. 

And  now  we  thank  Thee,  Heavenly  Father,  that  what  was 
conceived  in  hope  and  in  gratitude  has,  through  Thy  great 
goodness  and  mercy,  been  realized  so  richly  in  the  midst  of 
us  to-day.  For  surely  Thou  hast  done  for  us  exceeding  abun- 
dantly above  ail  that  we  hope  or  expected  at  Thy  hand  ;  and 
so  we  bless  Thee.  Again  we  raise  our  Ebehezer  together,  again 
we  say  before  Thee  and  before  the  world  :  "  Hitherto  hath  the 
Lord  helped  us." 

God  Almighty,  we  thank  Thee  for  the  grace  given  to  our 
brethren  who  have  been  engaged  in  collecting  these  our  offer- 
ings; we  bless  Thee  for  the  patience,  the  wisdom,  the  diligence, 
the  zeal,  and  the  prayerfulness  with  which  they  have  been  en- 
abled to  prosecute  this  work ;  and  now  we  pray  on  their  behalf 
that  there  may  come  back  abundant  blessing  into  their  souls. 

We  beseech  Thee,  Lord,  strengthen  them  and  help  them  for 
yet  greater  services  in  the  cause  of  our  precious  Master.  We  im- 
plore Thy  blessing  upon  all  the  agencies,  and  all  the  institutions 
that  are  to  be  strengthened,  or  that  have  been  strengthened  al- 
ready through  this  Memorial  work  ;  we  pray  that  those  who  are 
engaged  in  conducting  them  may  be  baptized  with  the  Holy 
Ghost.  God  Almighty,  we  supplicate  Thy  blessing  ujxjn  all 
the  friends,  our  beloved  brethren,  who  have  contributed  to  this 
Memorial  Fund.  Lord,  bless  the  rich.  Save  tliem  from  trust- 
ing in  uncertain  riches;  and.  Lord,  bless  the  poor  who  liave 
given  of  their  poverty.     May  there  come  into  their  own  souls 


688  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

seven-fold  blessing.  Give  them  a  renewed  sense  of  Thy  fa- 
vor, and  the  abidino;  spirit  of  adoption  within  them  ;  and,  O 
God,  give  tlicm  grace  we  beseech  Tliee,  give  to  all  onr  brethi-en 
wlio  have  been  engaged  in  this  work,  grace  to  maintain  tliat 
standard  of  Christian  liberality  to  Avhich  in  Thy  goodness  and 
mercy  Thou  hast  raised  ns  dm-ing  this  year. 

And  now,  O  God,  npon  our  beloved  Church — the  Chnrch 
for  which  Thou  hast  brought  us,  to  labor  and  to  pray — we  sup- 
plicate Thy  divine  blessina;.  O  Lord,  save  her  from  trusting 
in  material  resources.  O  Lord,  keep  her  from  entering  into 
her  work  in  the  spirit  of  a  secular  corporation.  O  Lord  Jesus, 
our  King  and  Head,  fill  us  with  Thy  Spirit,  and  enable  us  to 
do  Thy  work  in  the  way  that  Thou  dost  approve,  through  the 
means  of  Tliy  Truth,  and  to  the  glory  of  Thy  Name.  And 
when,  as  this  day,  Thou  dost  enable  us  to  look  upon  anything 
as  completed,  Lord  Jesus,  save  ns  from  the  folly  and  the  sin 
of  ari-ogating  the  credit  to  ourselves,  and  help  us  to  bring  our 
tribute  of  homage  and  thanksgiving  by  laying  it  at  Thy  feet, 
and  saying:  To  Thee,  not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  to 
Thy  Name  be  the  glory. 

And  now,  as  ministers  and  as  elders  ;  as  the  members  of  this 
General  Assembly,  Moderator,  and  members,  we  do  together 
afresh  consecrate  and  dedicate  ourselves  unto  Thee,  Father — 
our  Father — that  we  may  be  guided,  and  directed,  and  kept  by 
Thee  continually — that  we  may  live  to  the  glory  of  that  Sav- 
iour by  whose  redeeming  work  we  have  been  saved,  and  that  we 
may  strive  and  toil  forward  in  the  power  of  that  gracious  and 
Divine  Spirit  who  has  come  upon  us  in  some  measure,  and  who 
has  strengthened  us  to  do  that  over  which  we  rejoice  to-day. 
So  may  we  be  helped  in  life  and  in  death,  in  our  hearts  and  in 
onr  homes,  in  our  pulpits  and  among  our  peo])lp,  in  our  Presby- 
teries and  in  our  Assemblies  may  we  be  helped  to  give  glory  to 
the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Almighty  God,  we  supplicate  Thy  blessing  upon  all  sections 
of  our  Church  and  upon  every  department  of  the  Christian 
work,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  Pour  out  Thy  Spirit  upon 
our  seminaries  ;  baptize  our  professors  and  instructors  of  the 
young  with  the  Spirit  of  grace  and  wisdom.  Oh  !  make  us, 
we  beseech  Thee,  as  a  Church  a  mighty  spiritual  power  over 
this  whole  land !  And  we  supplicate  Thee  for  the  country  at 
large.  Surely  Thou  hast  blessed  us  richly,  and  laid  us  under 
great  responsibility.  Unto  us  Thou  hast  given  a  good  land 
and  a  large,  whose  mountains  are  iron  and  out  of  whose  hills 
we  may  dig  brass;  Thou  hast  clothed  our  pastures  with  flocks, 
and  our  valleys  with  corn  ;  Thou  hast  given  to  the  people 
abundance  of  bread,  and  Thou  hast  raised  us  and  strengthened 


MEMOKIAL    FUND.  689 

US  and  kept  ns  as  a  nation,  and  liast  lifted  ns  to  a  InVli  place 
among  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

For  this  we  praise  Thee.  And,  O  God,  we  pray  that  this, 
our  beloved  Church,  the  Church  of  our  fathers,  may  be  the 
happy  and  honored  instrument,  in  Thy  hand,  of  l)les'sing  this 
entire  nation  ;  of  purifying  the  public  sentiment ;  of  enlighten- 
ing the  public  darkness;  of  guiding  national  influences;  so 
that,  ourselves  in  peace  and  in  righteousness,  we  may  be  made 
an  unspeakable  blessing  among  all  the  nations  of  the  earth.  O 
Lord,  continue  among  us,  as  a  Church,  this  sweet  brotherly 
love.  O  Lord,  give  us  more  and  more  cf  the  spirit  of  forbear- 
ance, the  spirit  of  magnanimity,  the  spiritof  mutual  confidence 
and  cheerful  trustfulness.  O  Lord,  make  us  strong  in  common 
sympathies,  common  aims,  common  desires.  O  Lord,  make  us 
strong  through  the  indwelling  of  the  Divine  Spirit;  let  the 
power  of  Christ  continue  to  rest  upon  us.  Receive  our  thanks- 
givings, pardon  our  sins.  Lord,  forgive  the  sins  of  our  lives  ; 
and  when  any  merely  human  motive  has  entered  into  the  per- 
formance of  this  great  and  high  duty,  the  consummation  of  which 
we  witness  this  day.  Lord,  forgive  the  sin  we  beseech  Thee,  and 
accept  the  service  and  the  sacrifice  that  Thy  people  bring  to 
Thee,  and  in  them  and  in  their  labors,  be  Thou,  O  Lord,  gtori- 
fied.  We  ask  these  things  in  the  name  of  Jesus  ;  that  precious 
Name  through  which  we  present  our  thanksgivings  and  our 
praises.  And  unto  the  Father  and  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
one  Supreme  Jehovah,  be  glorj^  and  homage,  dominion  and 
power,  world  without  end,  Amen. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Eells,  of  Cleveland,  said :  It  is  manifest  from 
this  paper  just  read  by  the  Secretary,  that  there  are  some  details 
rendering  the  work  of  this  Committee  not  yet  complete.  I  move 
that  the  report  we  have  just  heard,  and  which  has  so  much 
thrilled  us  to-day,  be  accepted  and  referred  to  a  special  commit- 
tee of  the  usual  number,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Moderator. 

A  committee  was  accordingly  appointed.  Dr.  Eells,  chair- 
man. In  due  time  Dr.  Eells  presented  the  following  report, 
which  was  passed  unanimously  by  a  standing  vote  of  the  As- 
Bembly. 

Repokt  of  the  Special  Committee  on  the  Memorial  Fund. 

The  Convention  of  the  United  Churches  at  Pittsburgli  agreed 
with  enthusiasm  to  the  following  resolution  : — 

Resolved^  That  it  is  incumbent  on  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America,  one  in  organization,  one  in 
faith,  and  one  in  effort,  to  make  a  special  offering  to  the  treas- 
ury of  the  Lord,  of  Five  Millions  of  Dollars  ;  and  we  pledge 
44 


690  PllESBYTEEIAN    CHURCH. 

ourselves,  first  of  all,  to  seek  in  our  daily  petitions  the  bless- 
ing of  God  to  make  this  resolution  effectual ;  and  second,  that 
we  will,  \vith  untiring  perseverance  and  personal  effoi-t,  endea- 
vor to  animate  the  whole  Church  with  the  purpose  to  secure 
the  accomplisliment  of  this  great  work  before  the  third  Thurs- 
day of  May,  1871. 

The  Joint  Committee  reported  this  resolution  to  the  General 
Assembly  at  Pliiladelphia,  and  recommended  that  a  committee 
be  appointed  to  raise  and  disburse  this  Memorial  Fund,  the  con- 
tributions to  be  limited  to  the  objects  specified  in  their  furtlier  re- 
port. This  recommendation  was  adopted,  and  the  committee  was 
appointed,  whose  report  of  a  year's  service  has  so  thrilled  this  As- 
sembly and  the  whole  Church — the  further  consideration  of 
which  was  referred  to  tliis  Committee.  The  details  of  tlieir 
work  as  respects  responsibility,  devotion,  energy,  and  patient 
toil,  can  be  kuown  only  to  the  honored  bretliren  whose  names 
will  for  ever  be  identified  with  the  result.  The  result  itself  is 
grand,  perhaps  without  parallel — viz.,  that  $7,607,499.91  were 
contributed  to  the  Fund  during  the  year,  besides  more  than 
$2,000,000  which  were  given  for  objects  that  might  properly  be 
included  within  the  list  adopted,  but  which,  because  of  the 
choice  of  the  donors,  or  for  reasons  growing  out  of  the  strict 
construction  of  their  rules,  the  Committee  did  not  feel  at  liberty 
to  include  in  the  Fund  ;  and  at  least  $200,000  given  to  various 
educational  institutions,  which  were  not  reckoned,  lest  the 
amounts  composing  this  sum  might  possibly  have  been  reported 
by  the  churches,  and  thus  be  duplicated,  though  this  was  not 
likely; — making  a  total  of  what  the  Church  has  really  given 
during  the  year  to  be  $9,807,499.91 — or,  in  round  numbers, 
which  will  hardly  be  below  the  truth,  $10,000,000.  A  notable 
fact  connected  with  this  Memorial  gift,  moreover,  should  be 
ever  borne  in  mind — viz.,  that  it  is  not  laid  on  the  altar  at  the 
sacrifice  of  the  regular  benevolent  work  of  the  Church,  but  in 
addition  to  contributions  to  our  Boards,  in  the  aggregate 
"  greater  than  in  any  previous  year  of  our  history." 

Such  is  the  condensed  record  of  a  work,  among  the  most  re- 
markable, all  things  considered,  of  all  that  are  mentioned  in  the 
annals  of  the  Church.  Your  Committee  will  not  be  expected 
to  present  again  in  detail  the  items  and  facts  of  the  admirable 
report  given  into  their  hands.  Yet  there  are  some  inferences 
from  these,  and  some  considerations  respecting  them,  which 
they  commend  to  the  attention  of  the  Assembly. 

1.  It  is  manifest  that  the  great  success  of  this  effort  has  been 
largelv  dependent  on  the  wisdom  and  efficiency,  and  Christian 
spirit  of  the  gentlemen  who  formed  the  "  Memorial  Fund  Com- 
mittee."    It  is  difticult  to  conceive  the  mas-nitude,  and  in  some 


MEMOllIAL    FUND.  691 

phases  of  it,  the  perplexity  of  the  attempt  to  obtain  and  wisely 
distribute  $5,000,000  on  snch  conditions  as  were  imposed  upon 
this  Committee.  That  it  should  have  been  done  at  all  is  a  mar- 
vel. That  it  should  have  been  done  with  such  rare  ability,  and 
satisfaction  of  the  Church,  and  manifest  approbation  of  her 
Head,  may  well  excite  our  gratitude  and  praise. 

2.  This  great  success  leaves  no  doubt  that  there  is  among  our 
members  a  degree  of  love  to  Christ,  and  love  for  our  Church ; 
a  willingness  on  the  part  of  the  rich  to  give  of  their  abundance, 
and  on  the  part  of  the  poor  a  desire  to  give  through  their  self 
denial  towards  the  complete  equipment  of  Zion  in  all  h.er  de- 
partments for  the  service  of  her  Lord,  and  for  the  salvation  oi 
men,  which  may  be  trusted  in  any  future  emergencies,  or  when 
there  is  urgent  necessity  for  advance.  We  have  been  too  ready, 
perhaps,  to  say  that  Presbyterians  have  little  zeal  for  the  vigor- 
ous progress  of  their  own  denomination.  We  have  been  ex- 
pected to  aid  in  the  support  of  nnion  and  voluntary  agencies 
for  the  spread  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  redemption  of  the  world. 
Nor  should  we  wish  to  be  hereafter  unworthy  of  the  honor  on 
this  account  which  others  have  been  free  to  render.  But  we 
have  not  been  known  to  have  such  "  esprit  de  corps^''  such  re- 
liable and  self-sacrificing,  and  general,  sanctified  self-love  and 
regard  for  our  distinctive  organic  |)eculiarities  as  is  now  most 
clearly  demonstrated.  We  have  known — the  world  has  had 
proof — that  Presbyterians  love  Christ,  love  Christians  of  every 
name,  love  the  common  cause  in  which  all  Christians  should 
ever  take  an  abiding  interest.  Hereafter,  while  we  would  love 
neither  Christ  nor  Christians  of  every  name,  nor  our  common 
cause  any  less,  but  even  more,  we  can  point  to  the  history  of 
this  glorious  year  for  proof  that  Presbyterians  love  intensely, 
enthusiastically,  and,  because  of  its  vital  connection  with  the 
glory  of  Christ  and  the  success  of  His  kingdom,  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  We  can  make  this  fact  the  basis  for  more  ex- 
tended and  permanent  agencies  for  evangelization.  We' can 
make  it  a  new  point  of  departure,  as  respects  our  whole  future 
career. .  We  can  trust  our  people  respecting  the  sublime  mis- 
sion we  believe  our  denomination  should  accept,  in  the  current 
religious  history  of  our  nation  and  the  world. 

8.  As  intelligent  preparation  for  great  efficiency  implies  the 
purpose  to  attempt  it,  we  may  assume  that  the  Church  intends 
to  enter  upon  the  broader  work,  for  which  both  the  spirit  she 
has  manifested  and  the  effort  she  has  made  have  prepared  her; 
and  her  leaders  may  be  bold  in  their  plans  for  progress  if  they 
are  prudent  and  wise.  Pastors  and  elders  in  our  separate 
churches — Presbyterians  within  their  bounds — our  Boards,  in 
in  prosecuting  tlie  more  general  work  of  the  denomination,  may 


692  PEESBYTEUIAISr    CHURCH. 


take  this  marvellous  exhibition,  which  will  grow  upon  us  as 
we  contemplate  it,  as  their  warrant  for  the  hearty  co-operation 
of  our  members,  of  all  classes,  in  any  carefully  digested  schemes 
for  extension  and  doing  the  Master's  will.  There  is  great 
promise  of  growth,  and  consequent  usefulness,  in  this  outpour- 
ing of  money.  It  has  taught  the  people  that,  with  the  blessing 
of  God,  it  is  easy  to  do  great  things;  that  even  improbable 
things  may  be  achieved  by  the  Church  ;  that  liberality  is  itself 
a  blessing.  It  has  taught  them  that  the  poor  are  of  import- 
ance, even  in  money-giving,  as  well  as  the  rich.  It  has  culti- 
vated a  more  general  interest  in  the  benevolent  work  of  the 
Church,  because  a  much  larger  number  have  stock  in  the  means 
by  whicli  it  is  to  be  promoted.  Prayer  is  more  earnest,  intelligence 
is  more  universal,  the  ear  of  the  whole  number  is  more  sensitive 
to  appeals,  and  while  recklessness  and  zeal  without  knowledge 
will  result  as  ever  before,  true  forecast  and  prudent  calls  for 
advance  will  meet  cheering  and  eager  response.  Your  Com- 
mittee feel  that  this  is  the  marked  and  special  lesson  of  this 
success.  It  is  the  clear  summons  of  our  Lord,  through  the 
Church,  to  those  who  are  her  leaders,  that  they  be  men  pre- 
pared for  the  events  with  which  Providence  is  burdened.  It  is 
the  assurance  He  vouchsafes,  that  whatever  piety  requires  for  the 
prosecution  of  its  ends,  it  shall  not  be  withheld. 

4.  Although  a  large  portion  of  our  churches  have  contributed 
to  the  Fund,  and  the  Committee  have  been  persistent  in  their 
efforts  to  induce  all  to  have  a  share  in  the  gift,  there  are  some 
that  have  neglected  the  opportunity,  and  some  that  have 
been  obliged  to  postpone  action  till  it  was  too  late,  according  to 
the  provision  of  the  resolution  that  the  books  be  closed  on  the 
third  Thursday  of  May.  For  every  reason  it  is  desirable  that 
these  churches  be  permitted  to  place  themselves  on  the  roll, 
while  it  is  also  important  that  the  date  iirst  proposed  be  the 
end  of  the  proper  work  the  Committee  had  in  hand.  This 
may  be  done  by  the  publication  of  a  supplemental  list  of 
churches,  to  include  all  that  may  send  their  reports  before  a 
certain  fixed  date  of  the  coming  year,  the  churches  designating, 
as  before,  the  objects  to  which  they  wish  their  contributions  to 
be  applied.  It  is  suggested  for  such  churches  that,  so  far  as 
possible,  they  bestow  their  gifts  for  the  special  benefit  of  the 
regular  agencies  of  the  Church,  as  such  gifts  are  to  be  added 
to  the  Memorial  Fund  by  tlie  direction  of  this  General  As- 
sembly. 

5.  The  figures  of  the  Memorial  Committee  are  to  be  relied 
upon  as  correct  in  all  their  particulars.  But  it  is  to  be  regret- 
ted tluit  there  has  been  no  uniform  rule  adopted  by  the  Presby- 
teries respecting  their  report  of  the  sums  given  to  difi'erent 


JIEMOniAL    FUND.  693 

objects.  Some  report  Memorial  ofFerinss  also  in  the  columns 
of  their  statistical  tables,  and  others  make  no  such  report  So 
that  these  tables  cannot  be  a  fair  exhibit  of  what  has  been 
done  during;  the  year  for  the  several  departments  of  Church 
advance.  Your  Committee  are  not  able  to  suggest  any  practi- 
cable remedy  for  this  misfortune,  and  therefore  are  content  with 
this  mere  reference  to  it.  For  reliable  particulars  concerning 
the  distribution  of  the  Memorial  offerings,  we  must  examine 
the  detailed  report,  and  list  of  churches,  to  be  published  by  the 
Committee. 

Having  alluded  to  these  inferences  and  considerations,  among 
the  many  that  might  be  presented,  we  conclude  our  report  by 
recommending  that  the  Assembly  adopt  the  following  resolu- 
tions : — 

1.  That  we  devoutly  thank  Almighty  God,  of  whom  come 
both  riches  and  honor,  and  who  also  can  give  strength  unto  all, 
so  that  they  may  be  able  to  oiFer  willingly  after  this  sort,  that  He 
has  inclined  our  people  to  lay  this  Memorial  gift  upon  His  altar. 

2.  That  we  thank  our  brethren  who  have  served  the  Church 
on  the  Committee — the  most  satisftictory  results  of  whose  wis- 
dom and  patience  and  work  is  given  us  in  tliis  report — for  their 
fidelity  and  devotion  in  the  discharge  of  this  sacred  yet  diffi- 
cult duty  to  which  they  were  called,  wliile  we  feel  that  this 
result  must  be  their  most  worthy  reward. 

3.  That  we  congratulate  the  Ciuirch  upon  such  proof  of  what 
she  is  able  to  achieve,  and  of  her  moi-e  complete  equipment  for 
the  future,  upon  the  broad  threshold  of  which  our  reunion  has 
placed  her,  with  the  promise  of  great  success  ;  and  that  the 
contribution  of  so  large  a  sum  of  money,  in  addition  to  the 
support  of  the  regular  agencies  of  the  Church,  leaves  no  doubt 
that  she  can  hereafter  answer  any  demands  which  the  increased 
and  more  active  piety  of  her  members  may  make  upon  her 
wealth. 

4.  That  while  there  is  evident  need  of  even  more  money,  espe- 
cially for  the  relief  of  our  new  churches — six  hundred  of  wiiich 
are  believed  to  be  still  without  houses  of  worship — and  for  the 
greater  success  of  our  home  and  foreign  missionary  work  ;  and 
Avhile  we  believe  the  Church  is  willing  to  respond  to  this  neces- 
sity, the  raising  of  this  money  may  now  be  accomplished  by 
the  Boards  of  the  Church,  and  the  continuance  of  any  special 
agencies  for  this  purpose  will  not  be  wnse. 

5.  That  we  accept  this  report  of  the  Committee  as  evidence 
Df  their  completed  work,  yet  that  the  Committee  be  continued 
till  the  session  of  the  next  General  Assembly,  that  they  may 
superintend  the  details  that  may  still  require  their  attention, 
and  make  their  final  report  to  that  body. 


694  PRESBYTEKLVN   CHURCH. 

6.  Tliat  as  there  are  some  cliurclies  which,  for  various  reasons, 
have  been  unable  to  make  their  reports,  yet  desire  to  have  a 
place  among  those  contributing  to  this  Fund,  the  Committee  be 
requested  to  delay  the  printing  of  the  roll  of  churches  and  indi- 
viduals so  contributing,  till  the  lirst  of  August  next.  That  be- 
fore that  date  any  churches  or  individuals  may  have  opportunity 
to  report  for  regular  insertion,  any  sums  that  may  have  been 
given  previous  to  the  third  Thursday  of  May,  and  all  others 
may  report  what  they  desire  to  be  added  to  the  Fund,  their 
names  and  gifts  being  printed  in  a  list  that  may  be  regarded  as 
a  supplement  to  the  regular  report. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

Signed  by  the  Committee. 

James  Eellb,  Chairm(m. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

EXPLANATOKY   AND    STATISTICAL    SKETCHES. 


STATISTICS  OF  THE  CHURCH  (OLD  SCHOOL  BRANCH) 
SINCE  1837.     By  the  Rev.  David  Irving,  D.D, 

A  GENERATION  has  passed  away  since  our  Church  became  two 
bands.  The  forces  which  divided  it  did  not  arrest  the  life  and  aggressive 
action  of  the  two  separate  parts.  Each  gradually  took  up  an  inde- 
pendent position,  and  sought  in  its  own  way  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  Each  at  the  outset  had  its  own  defined 
policy,  which  has  either  been  modified  or  enlarged  to  meet  new  de- 
mands or  a  new  order  of  things ;  and  each  has  been  brought,  as  the 
result  of  a  thorough  and  intelligent  experience,  to  see  eye  to  eye,  as 
to  the  best  mode  of  conducting  the  work  and  the  varied  schemes  of 
the  Church. 

But  it  is  only  with  one  branch  of  the  reunited  body  we  have  to 
do,  and  to  show  in  figures,  as  far  as  these  can  express  its  vital  forces, 
the  things  accomplished  by  it. 

Energy  and  an  enlightened  denominational  zeal  has  marked  the 
ecclesiastical  life  and  history  of  the  Old  School  branch.  Holding  to 
certain  great  principles  of  action  before  the  disruption,  it  has  steadily 
and  with  an  increasing  devotion  maintained  them  since.  This  has 
not  interfered  with  what  it  regarded  as  outside  efforts.  To  humane 
and  philanthropic  enterprises  it  has  given,  through  its  local  churches 
and  individual  gifts,  much  generous  sympathy  and  aid,  and  it  may  be 
truly  said  that  no  portion  of  Christ's  Church,  according  to  its  numeri- 
cal strength,  has  done  more  for  such  movements  than  the  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  family  in  this  land.  A  small  part  of  what  the  Old 
School  has  done  in  this  line  of  effort  may  be  seen  in  the  "  Miscella- 
neous" column  of  its  "Minutes,"  which  amounts  in  the  last  three 
years  to  $1,211,654.   This  sum  is  mainly  the  result  of  congregational 


byb  PRESBYTERTAIS-    CIIUKCn. 

collections;  the  steady  outflow  of  individual  donations  cannot  be 
estimated. 

It  took  time  for  each  branch  to  settle  down  into  a  healthy  and  work- 
ing condition;  hence  the  Minutes  of  1838  can  give  no  just  estimate 
of  the  relative  strength  and  state  of  the  two  parties.  These  can  be 
gathered  more  truly  from  the  published  records  of  1840,  when  each 
knew  its  true  place  and  the  number  of  its  friends  and  adherents. 

The  undivided  Church  made  the  following  report  in  1837  : 


i 

a 

P 

z 

i 

a 

1 

Members. 

z 

z 

w 

£ 

s 

3 

< 

Q 

23 

135 

2,140 

*■ 

244 

2,86s 

220.SS7 

The  following  is  the  statistical  report  of  the  Old  School  in  1840 


s 

i 

H 

5 

5 

Members. 

w 

1 

z 

►3 

6 

5 

17 

96 

1,221 

185 

199 

1,763 

126,583 

From  this  period  until  1869,  the  last  time  when  its  Minutes  as  a 
distinct  organization  were  issued,  we  have  thirty  working  years,  in- 
cluding that  of  1840;  dividing  this  into  three  equal  portions,  and  we 
have  the  following  results  : 


a 

s 

i 

I 

z 

< 

s 

1 

Members. 

H 

w 

p^ 

% 

hJ 

U 

U 

1849 

23 

122 

1,860 

252 

364 

2,512 

200,830 

1859 

33 

168 

2,577 

297 

493 

3,487 

279,630 

1869 

27 

143 

2,381 

.87 

376 

2,740, 

258,903 

EXPLANATORY   AND    STATISTIC.VL.  697 

In  the  first  decade  there  is  a  gain  of  6  synods,  26  presbyteries,  639 
ministers,  67  licentiates,  165  candidates,  749  churches,  and  74,247 
members.  In  the  second  decade  there  is  a  gain  of  10  synods,  46 
presbyteries,  717  ministers,  45  licentiates,  129  candidates,  975 
churches,  and  78,800  members.  In  the  third  period  there  is  a  de- 
crease of  6  synods,  25  presbyteries,  196  ministers,  no  licentiates, 
117  candidates,  747  churches,  and  20,727  communicants. 

This  last  period  covers  two  important  secessions  from  the  body. 
One  of  these  in  186 1,  when  10  synods,  45  presbyteries,  embracing 
741  ministers,  and  1,134  churches,  with  nearly  76,000  communicants, 
in  what  was  then  called  the  Confederate  States,  withdrew,  and  were 
organized  into  a  separate  Church;  the  other  in  1866,  when  the  larger 
portion  of  the  churches  in  Kentucky,  and  about  one-half  of  the 
churches  in  Missouri,  embracing  some  10,000  members,  ceased  to  be 
enrolled  as  an  integral  part  of  our  Church.  This  last  period,  though 
showing  from  the  causes  specified  a  loss  in  the  aggregate,  was  yet 
equally  with  the  others  a  reaping  time,  and  considering  all  the  cir- 
cumstances in  our  national  and  ecclesiastical  affairs,  was  one  of  the 
richest  results  and  most  decided  growth.  Thus  370,589  members  in 
the  three  decades  were  admitted  on  profession  of  their  faith  into 
communion  with  the  church.  In  the  first  were  received  93,546  on 
examination;  in  the  second,  139,657;  and  in  the  third,  137,386. 
Taking  the  first  twenty  years,  when  a  comparison  only  can  be  drawn 
between  the  relative  increase  of  the  Old  School  Church  and  that  of 
the  country  at  large,  and  we  have  this  interesting  fact,  that  whilst  the 
increase  of  population  in  the  latter  from  1840  to  i860  was  8i|-  per 
cent,  the  advance  in  the  membership  of  our  Church  was  131  per 
cent. 

At  the  time  of  the  separation  the  Church  was  engaged  in  evange- 
listic efforts  at  home  and  abroad.  The  organizations  aided  were  both 
ecclesiastical  and  voluntary.  These  were  not,  however,  as  numerous 
and  comprehensive  as  the  schemes  instituted  and  fostered  by  each 
branch  in  later  times.  Three  prominent  causes  were  aided  by  those 
who  adhered  to  the  Old  School  body,  and  these  were  in  one  form  or 
another  under  ecclesiastical  control,  viz..  Foreign  Missions,  Domestic 
Missions,  and  Education.  As  soon  as  the  division  took  place,  the 
Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society  was  transferred  to  the  General 
Assembly,  and  through  it  as  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  has  the 


698  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

Church  sought  the  evangelization  of  Jew  and  Gentile,  of  Romanist, 
Pagan,  and  Mohammedan.  The  **  Board  for  the  Publication  of  Tracts 
and  Sabbath-school  Books,"  afterwards  changed  to  the  "  Presbyterian 
Board  of  Publication,"  was  transferred,  under  the  name  of  "  The 
Presbyterian  Tract  and  Sabbath-school  Book  Society,"  from  the  Synod 
of  Philadelphia  to  the  care  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1838,  and  be- 
came one  of  the  accredited  agencies  of  the  Church.  The  Church 
Extension  Committee,  afterwards  called  "  Board,"  was  instituted  by 
the  Assembly  in  1844,  and  continued  under  the  direction  and  over- 
sight of  the  Board  of  Missions  till  1855,  when  it  became  a  distinct 
body,  and  was  located  at  St.  Louis.  The  sixth  benevolent  scheme 
of  the  Church  was  inaugurated  by  the  General  Assembly  in  1849,  ^o 
meet  the  wants  of  disabled  ministers  and  the  widows  and  orjDhans  of 
deceased  ministers.  The  funds  for  this  object  were  disbursed  by  the 
Board  of  Publication  upon  the  recommendation  of  presbyteries,  and 
afterwards  they  were  transferred  for  distribution  to  the  trustees  of  the 
General  Assembly.  The  seventh  ecclesiastical  agency  is  the  Assem- 
bly's Committee  on  Freedrnen,  authorized  by  the  supreme  judicatory 
of  the  Church  in  1864,  but  which  did  not  get  into  active  and  effective 
working  until  the  following  year. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  from  this  simple  statement  that  the  benevolent 
schemes  of  our  Church  have  more  than  doubled  since  its  separate  and 
independent  action,  and  that  they  cover  very  broad  and  important 
interests,  both  in  themselves  and  in  their  immediate  bearing  upon  the 
extension  of  Christ's  own  cause  among  all  classes  and  in  all  lands. 
In  their  support  many  hearts  have  been  enlisted,  and  for  their  ad- 
vancement and  success  much  Christian  activity,  generosity,  self- 
denial,  and  prayer  have  been  given  and  consecrated.  Such  offerings 
have  been  blessed  to  many  souls,  and  have  been  a  great  spiritual 
power  in  the  Church  itself 

In  summing  up  the  contributions  of  our  Zion  to  the  different  spe- 
cified objects,  we  can  only  gather  up  the  amounts  contributed  directly 
to  the  respective  Boards  and  Committees,  but  these  are  far  from 
embracing  the  Church's  gifts  to  these  causes.  Thus  the  Board  of 
Education  receives  a  small  part  of  what  is  generously  bestowed  upon 
this  important  work.  This  may  be  seen  from  a  companson  of  the 
Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly  with  the  published  statements  of 
the  Board.     The  latter  reports  for  the  last  three  years  a  total  of 


EXPLANATORY   AND    STATISTICAL.  609 

$123,507;  the  former  sets  forth  $815,720,  as  given  in  this  time  for 
this  object.  A  great  disparity  is  also  seen  in  Church  Extension 
and  some  of  the  other  causes,  but  even  these  columns  in  the  "  Min- 
utes" fail  "to  exhibit  the  majority  of  individual  gifts  and  private  sub- 
scriptions to  various  interests  of  the  Church.  But,  taking  simply  the 
reports  of  the  different  Boards,  etc.,  and  we  have  the  following  facts 
and  figures : 

DOMESTIC   MISSIONS. 

riiis  Board  has  received,  from  1838  to  1870,  $2,548,965.  It  is 
impossible  to  tell  the  number  of  missionaries  who  have  been  aided 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  the  number  of 
churches  brought  into  existence,  sustained  and  made  self-supporting 
by  its  gifts,  and  the  number  that  but  for  its  steady  aid  would  have 
died. 

EDUCATION. 

This  Board,  for  the  various  departments  aided  by  it,  has  received, 
from  1838  to  1870,  $1,357,335,  and  has  assisted  in  this  time  2,761 
candidates  for  the  ministry,  as  well  as  extended  help  to  schools  and 
colleges. 

THE   BOARD   OF   PUBLICATION, 

Leaving  out  of  view  its  large  sales,  and  what  it  has  accomplished  by 
its  sound  literature,  has  received  for  its  colportage  fund,  etc.,  from 
1840  to  1870,  $561,927. 

CHURCH    EXTENSION. 

During  its  eleven  years'  connection  with  the  Board  of  Missions,  it 
aided  382  churches  to  complete  their  buildings  without  debt,  and 
obtained  in  contributions  $68,544.  In  the  fifteen  years  of  its  sep- 
arate existence  it  has  raised  $515,287,  given  help  to  1040  churches, 
and  secured  free  from  debt  property  worth  $3,575,500;  making 
a  total  of  receipts  $583,831,  and  of  churches  assisted  1422. 

THE    DISABLED    MINISTERS'    FUND 

Reports  a  total  of  donations  given  by  the  Church,  from  1S49  to  1S69, 


700  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

at  $199,788.  The  number  of  ministers,  widows,  and  orphans  relieved 
'and  cheered  by  this  fund  cannot  be  given,  but  the  numbers  reported 
each  year  make  in  the  aggregate  422  ministers,  586  widows,  and  62 
famihes  of  orphans.  The  number  assisted  for  1870  is  64*ministers, 
91  widows,  and  13  families  of  orphans.  The  receipts  for  the  past  year 
were  $36,774.     The  total  of  the  Permanent  Fund  is  $41,442. 

THE    FREEDMEN'S    COMMITTEE 

Has  received  from  the  churches,  during  its  five  working  years, 
$135,264,  has  organized  75  churches,  has  76  schools,  and  57  build- 
ings for  church  purposes.  In  its  churches  are  gathered  5,264  commu- 
nicants, and  in  its  schools  5,220  pupils. 

FOREIGN   MISSIONS. 

In  1 83 1  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society  was  organized 
at  Pittsburg,  Pa.  This  society  received  till  1837,  from  churches 
and  individuals,  $92,362  ;  then  it  was  transferred  to  the  General  As- 
sembly, as  has  been  already  stated.  From  1838  to  1870  the  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions  has  received  from  all  sources  $5,296,365  ;  but 
omitting  what  it  has  acknowledged  from  Government  school  funds 
for  the  Indians,  Bible  and  Tract  Societies,  etc.,  the  amount  from  the 
Church,  including  legacies,  is  $4,379,879. 

The  following  were  transferred  to  the  Board  by  the  Western  For- 
eign Missionary  Society:  3  missions,  7  stations,  11  missionaries,  6 
male  and  27  female  assistant  missionaries ;  in  1870  the  Board  has  21 
missions,  67  stations  and  sub-stations,  84  foreign  missionaries,  15 
ordained  native  ministers,  8  licentiates,  a  large  number  of  candidates, 
8  foreign  male  and  87  female  assistant  missionaries,  199  native  assis- 
tants, 12  presbyteries,  54  organized  churches,  with  a  membership  as 
far  as  reported  of  2,047.  ^^^  the  different  schools,  day  and  boarding, 
are  7,465  children  and  adults.  The  receipts  of  the  past  year  have 
been  $271,940.  Besides  these  results,  the  property  of  the  Board  in 
New  York,  and  the  property  reared  and  gathered  for  missionary  pur- 
poses in  different  lands,  would  cost  to-day,  to  obtain  them,  at  least 
$350,000. 

The  vast  sums  contributed  for  theological  seminaries  and  colleges 


EXPLANATORY   AND    STATISTICAL.  701 

in  the  past  thirty  years,  and  the  influence  of  these  upon  the  growth 
and  efficiency  of  our  Zion,  cannot  be  estimated.  Never  in  its  his- 
tory were  there  such  noble  gifts  and  such  Christian  givers  as  are  now 
within  its  pale,  but  never  had  our  branch  such  large  resources  to 
consecrate  to  the  cause  of  Christ  and  humanity.  In  1858,  when  the 
membership  of  our  body  was  almost  the  same  as  in  1869,  the  aggre- 
gate of  all  its  reported  contributions  for  benevolent  and  congrega- 
tional purposes  was  $2,544,692;  but  the  whole  amount  in  1869  ^^'^s 
$4,526,281,  showing  a  vast  difference  in  these  two  periods  and  in 
favor  of  the  present. 

The  total  number  of  book's  and  tracts  issued  by  the  Board  of  Pub- 
lication from  its  organization  to  1870  is  15,132,788.  Last  year 
1,765,000  copies  of  the  "Sabbath-school  Visitor"  (a  semi-monthly), 
and  175,00  copies  of  the  "Record,"  were  printed.  Within  the 
same  time  42,500  copies  of  the  pamphlet  "Foreign  Missionary,"  and 
about  720,000  copies  of  the  children's  "  Foreign  ]\Iissionary,"  were 
issued, 

A  church  thus  organized  and  equipped,  possessing  such  life  and 
zeal,  guided  throughout  its  various  departments  by  like  faith  and 
principles,  animated  with  the  same  spirit,  and  seeking  the  same  end, 
is  capable  of  still  greater  achievements ;  as  these  facts  show,  it  has 
been  steadily  putting  forth  new  Hfe  and  power,  and  never  was  it  so 
capable  of  doing  great  things  for  God  as  at  the  present  time.  If 
figures  are  in  themselves  dry  and  bald,  still,  as  in  the  case  before  us, 
they  are  expressive  of  things  done,  and  if  rightly  viewed  they  contain 
the  seeds  of  events  that  are  yet  to  be  developed.  The  "  spolia 
opitna  "  for  God  and  eternity  are  to  be  gathered.  May  some  future 
statistician  show  by  facts  and  figures  the  wonderful  impulse  given  to 
our  church  life,  benevolence,  and  deeds  from  the  year  1870. 

By  a  reference  to  the  statistics  of  the  Consolidated  Church,  which 
we  give  upon  a  succeeding  page,  it  will  be  seen  that  its  Benevolence 
received  a  stimulus  even  greater  than  was  anticipated  by  the  consum- 
mation of  the  Reunion.  The  efforts  of  the  Committee  on  the  Sus- 
tentation  Fund  and  the  Committee  of  Benevolence  and  Finance  have 
done  much  to  produce  this  result. 


702 


PEESBYTERIAN   CHUECII. 


STATISTICS  OF  THE  CHURCH  (NEW  SCHOOL  BRANCH) 
SINCE  1837.     By  the  Rev.  Edwin  F.  Hatfield,  D.D. 

The  history  of  the  New  School  branch  of  the  Church,  during  the 
period  of  the  disniption,  has  been  so  well  and  fully  written  and  put 
on  record  in  another  portion  of  this  volume,  that  very  little  remains 
to  be  stated.     A  few  brief  statistics  will  complete  the  picture. 

When  the  disruption  became  an  accomplished  fact  in  1838,  it 
found  this  portion  of  the  denomination  utterly  unprepared  for  a  sep- 
arate existence.  Such  a  result  they  had  not  contemplated.  They 
opposed  the  excision  of  1837,  and  sought  to  maintain  the  integrity 
of  the  body.  They  clung  to  the  hope  to  the  very  last,  relinquishing 
it  only  when  the  breach  appeared  to  be  irreparable.  Consequently, 
they  were  compelled  to  enter  upon  their  distinct  course,  without 
records,  without  funds,  without  any  organized  agencies  to  carry  for- 
ward their  operations  (save  such  as  were  furnished  by  co-operative 
associations),  and  even  without  any  well-defined  plans  for  the  future. 

In  these  circumstances,  it  was  found  impossible  to  publish,  in  con- 
nection with  the  Minutes  of  1838,  any  detailed  statements  of  the 
condition  of  tliis  branch,  thus  rudely  broken  off  from  the  parent  tree. 
The  Statistical  Reports  of  the  Presbyteries  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
other  branch,  and  were  published  in  connection  with  the  Minutes  of 
their  proceedings. 

The  first  tabular  statement  of  the  denomination  called  "  the  New 
School,"  appeared  in  1839,  in  connection  with  the  published  Minutes 
of  the  Assembly  of  that  year.  Excluding  the  baptisms  and  funds, 
the  following  figures,  taken  from  the  "Summary  View"  of  the  Statis- 
tical Reports,  give  some  idea  of  the  composition  of  the  body  at  that 
date  : 


i 

1 

i 

i 

3 

i 

Communicants. 

■/, 

z 

3 

•^ 

ij 

0 

u 

85 

1,181 

.. 

43 

.... 

100,350 

EXl^LANATORY   AND    STATISTICAL.  703 

These  figures,  however,  are  not  reHable.  On  examining  the  roll, 
it  is  found  that  ten  Presbyteries  are  included  improperly,  and  must  be 
deducted.     The  table  thus  corrected  would  be  as  follows  : 


<A 

PS 

Id 

i 

^ 

i 

3 

i 

Communicants. 

(^ 

s 

^- 

I 

a 

75 

1.093 

95 

43 

1,260 

97.033 

A  reference  to  the  Statistical  Reports  themselves  shows  that  the 
returns  from  the  churches  were  very  imperfect.  A  large  number  of 
them  failed  entirely  to  report  the  number  of  communicants ;  so  that 
the  whole  number  of  church  members  was  much  greater  than  here 
appears,  probably  by  one-tenth  at  the  least.  This  would  show  a  total 
of  106,736  communicants,  which  probably  is  a  near  approximation 
to  the  true  state  of  the  case. 

The  number  of  the  Synods  can  be  gathered  only  from  the  roll  of 
that  year.  It  thus  appears  that  seventeen  Synods  were  represented, 
in  two  cases  by  only  a  single  Presbytery,  the  remaining  presbyteries 
adliering  to  the  other  branch  ;  so  that  but  fifteen  Synods  are  to  be 
reckoned  as  attached  to  the  New  School  branch  at  the  disruption. 

The  progress  of  the  body  may  properly  be  measured  at  equal  in- 
tervals of  ten  years,  covering  a  period  of  thirty  years  to  the  Reunion. 
In  1849  the  following  summary  view  was  given  : 


w 

I 

1 

i 

►3 

i 

6 

1 
2 
0 

Communicants. 

20 

104 

1.453 

130 

S8 

1,535 

139,047 

Th.s  was  the  period  of  Triennial  Assemblies,  and  many  circum- 
stances conspired  to  retard  the  growth  of  the  body  during  the  Avhole 
decade,  as  has  already  appeared  in  the  Narrative  History ;  yet  the 
growth  was  very  gratifying. 


704 


PEESBYTERIAN   CHUECH. 


At  the  expiration  of  another  period  of  the  same  number  of  years, 
the  Minutes  of  1859  exhibit  the  following  tabular  statement : 


m 

ui 

s 

g 
g 

1 

2 
3 

5 

Communicants. 

^ 

g 

6 

0 

=3 

108 

1,545 

134 

370 

1,542 

137.990 

The  progress  of  the  body  would  appear  from  this  statement  to 
have  been  slower  than  in  the  previous  decade.  But  it  is  to  be  borne 
in  mind  that  in  the  year  1858  the  Southern  Synods,  in  their  zeal  for 
the  conservation  of  the  system  of  slavery,  and  in  obedience  to  the 
behests  of  the  slaveholding  aristocracy  of  that  portion  of  the  countr}', 
separated  from  their  brethren  at  the  North,  and  walked  no  more  with 
them.  The  returns  from  the  Synod  of  Virginia  for  a  previous  year 
are  included  in  the  summary  of  1859.  The  other  Synods  had  been 
dropped  from  the  roll.  Had  these  Synods  also  been  reported  in  1859, 
the  footings  would  have  been  as  follows  : 


s 

0 

1. 

>• 

1 

5 
H 
Z 

a 

s 

Communicants. 

s 

z 

3 

CO 

e^ 

hJ 

u 

u 

27 

... 

1,641 

136 

3SS 

1,721 

147,664 

Comparing  this  statement  with  that  of  1S49,  it  is  seen  that  the 
denomination,  notwithstanding  the  difficulties  and  discouragements 
with  which  it  had  to  contend,  elsewhere  circumstantially  and  truth- 
fully related,  had  made  considerable  i)rogress,  and  had  fully  vindicated 
its  claims  to  an  honorable  recognition  among  the  ecclesiastical  powers 
of  the  land. 

Another  period  of  ten  years  covers  the  remainder  of  the  separate 
history  of  the  two  branches.  The  summary  for  1869  exhibits  the 
followin":  results  : 


EXPLANATORY    AND    STATISTICAL. 


705 


i 

H 

w 

g 

K 

H 

« 

i 

u 

fe 

P 

g 
^ 

Communicants. 

> 

§ 

2 

s 

2 

X 

_) 

u 

u 

24 

"3 

1,848 

116 

303 

1,631 

172,560 

This  last  decade  shows  but  a  small  growth  in  the  number  of  Synods 
and  Presbyteries,  the  tendency  being  not  to  an  enlargement  of  their 
number,  but  to  an  increase  of  their  strength.  The  number  of  licen- 
tiates and  candidates,  owing  probably  to  the  absorption  of  such  a 
vast  host  of  young  men  by  the  army  and  navy  during  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,  had  actually  decreased.  But  a  large  addition  had  been 
made  to  the  ministry,  the  churches,  and  the  communicants.  The 
Reunion  finds  this  part  of  the  Church  in  a  most  healthy,  thriving 
condition. 

In  respect  to  funds  for  the  promotion  of  the  great  schemes  of  the 
Church  and  for  the  support  of  public  worship,  it  is  not  possible  to 
give  any  tabular  statements  with  any  sort  of  accuracy.  This  part  of 
the  Church,  it  is  well  known,  was  distinguished  for  its  adherence  to 
the  co-operative  system  of  benevolent  action.  It  is  but  recently  that 
it  has  established  boards  of  its  own,  and  withdrawn  from  the  volun- 
tary societies  in  part.  With  the  exception  of  the  funds  for  the  As- 
sembly, no  reports  were  rendered  by  the  presbyteries  of  the  sums 
contributed  by  the  churches,  either  for  their  own  support  or  foi  pur- 
poses of  benevolence,  until  the  year  1853,  at  which  time  the  denom- 
inational spirit  began  to  be  more  fully  developed.  The  returns  of 
funds  contributed  for  that  year  were  as  follows  : 


Assembly. 

Home  Missions. 

For.  Missions. 

Education. 

Publication. 

$3,990  40 

$62,058  38 

$53,143    2S 

$28,922  88 

$34.S35  39 

These  returns  included,  under  each  separate  head,  all  that  was 
given  in  every  direction  in  that  particular  line.     Latterly  they  have 
been  principally  restricted  to  what  was  given  to  the  boards  and  com- 
mittees of  the  Church,  while  gifts  to  .outside  associations  and  objects 
45 


'06 


PKESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


have  beer  mostly  included  under  a  miscellaneous  head.  Several  new 
columns  have  been  introduced,  and  among  them  one  exhibiting  the 
sums  expended  for  congregational  purposes  —  the  sums  expended  on 
themselves  by  each  congregation.  The  returns  for  1869  are  as  fol- 
lows : 


i 

1 

i 

g 

z 

2 

J 

w 
u 

5 

i 

z 

I 

3 

i 

■$142,377 

$1.6,364 

§29,492 

$14,491 

$43,013 

$18,966 

$12,594 

$12,998 

$2,866,940 

$363,298 

The  sum  total,  thus  reported  as  contributed  by  the  churches  within 
the  year  preceding  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  of  1869  —  the  last 
year  of  the  separate  existence  of  the  two  branches  —  is  $3,620,533. 

As  the  history  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  denominational 
spirit  is  elsewhere  so  fully  given,  it  is  not  deemed  necessary  to  go 
more  fully  into  the  details  of  the  sums  given  from  year  to  year,  espe- 
cially as  the  returns  from  the  presbyteries  have,  until  recently,  been 
quite  defective  in  these  respects.  Enough  is  here  given  to  show, 
that,  at  the  time  of  the  Reunion,  this  branch  of  the  Church  had  at- 
tained to  a  most  commendable  development  of  its  energies  and 
resources,  in  the  extension  and  building  up  of  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom on  the  earth. 


BRIEF  SKETCHES  OF  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  "RE- 
UNION COMMITTEE."  By  the  Rev.  James  H.  M.  Knox, 
D.D. 

The  gratitude  of  the  Church  will  ever  render  illustrious  the  names  of  the  Re- 
union Committee  of  1866.  The  work  they  performed  in  bringing  together  the 
two  branches  of  the  now  United  Church  is  fitly  commemorated  in  the  fifth  ehapter 
of  this  volume.  It  is  the  object  of  these  sketches  to  furnish  simply  the  outlines  of 
their  biograpliy.     Their  names  are  givyn  on  page  426. 


EXPLANATOKY   ANB    STATISTICAL.  707 

THE  REV.  JOHN  M.  KREBS,  D.D.,  New  York  City. 
For  incidents  of  his  life  see  Biographical  Sketches,  etc.,  page  326. 
THE  REV.  CHARLES  C.  BEATTY,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Steubenville,  Ohio. 
Charles  Clinton  Beatty,  son  of  Col.  Erkuries  Beatty,  was  born  near 
Princeton,  N.  J.,  in  the  year  1800.  His  father  was  an  officer  in  the  army  of  the 
Revolution.  His  grandfather,  the  Rev.  Charles  Beatty,  was  an  eminent  minister 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  educated  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey  at 
Princeton,  and  in  the  Theological  Seminary  in  the  same  place.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  in  January,  1822,  and 
on  October  ist  of  the  same  year  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist,  with  a  view  to 
missionary  labor  in  the  West.  Having  spent  seven  months  in  the  States  of  In- 
diana and  Illinois,  he  received  a  call  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Steuben- 
ville, Ohio,  May,  1823.  He  was  installed  pastor  in  October,  1823.  In  this 
charge  he  continued  until  the  spring  of  1837,  when  his  health  having  failed,  the 
church  reluctantly  accepted  his  resignation.  Shortly  after,  his  health  having  im- 
proved, he  commenced  the  enterprise  of  a  second  church  in  Steubenville.  A 
church  edifice  was  erected  and  a  church  organized  in  1838.  Here  he  ministered 
at  first  as  partial  supply,  and  then  as  pastor  until  the  summer  of  1S47.  He  has 
since  acted  as  minister-at-large  among  the  churches  of  the  Presbytery  and  its 
neighborhood.  The  honorary  degree  of  S.T.  D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by 
Washington  College,  at  Washington,  Pa.,  in  1S40,  and  in  1861  the  same  institu- 
tion confen-ed  upon  him  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  At  the  meeting  of  the  General 
Assembly  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  May,  1862,  he  was  elected  Moderator,  He  has 
been  a  director  of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  from  its  organization  ;  and 
for  the  past  eight  years  he  has  lectured  in  the  same  Institution.  Dr.  Beatty 
has  been  the  recipient  of  numerous  appointments  from  the  General  Assembly.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  the  Revision  of  the  Book  of  Discipline,  ap- 
pointed in  1857,  and  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Board  of  Publication,  ap- 
pointed by  the  General  Assembly  of  1862,  and  which  made  its  report  at  Peoria 
in  1863.  In  1866  he  was  appointed  on  the  Committee  on  the  Reunion  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  1869  the  General  Assembly,  at  its  adjourned  meeting 
in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  appointed  him  on  the  Committee  on  the  Reconstruction  of  the 
Church.  In  1829,  in  co-operatioi\  with  his  wife,  Dr.  Beatty  commenced  the 
Female  Seminary  at  Steubenville,  Ohio,  which  has  ever  since  been  under  his 
superintendence. 

In  the  Presbyterian  Church  no  man  is  held  in  greater  veneration  and  love  than 
Dr.  Charles  C.  Beatty.  His  life  has  been  a  pre-eminently  useful  one.  In  every  good 
work  he  has  been  forward.  Washington  College  and  the  Theological  Seminaiy 
at  Allegheny  City  have  partaken  very  largely  of  his  cares,  toils,  prayers,  and  bene- 
factipns.  To  each  of  these  institutions  he  has  given  $50,000,  having  very  lately 
endowed  the  Chair  of  Theology  at  the  Seminary  at  Allegheny  with  the  munificent 
sum  of  $35,000,  in  addition  to  $15,000  that  he  had  previously  bestowed  upon  the 
Institution.     In  the  work  of  Reunion  Dr.  Beatty  has  been  engaged  with  all  tho 


708  PEESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

ardor  of  his  nature,  and  he  rejoices  over  nothing  so  much  as  that  he  has  been 
spared  in  the  good  providence  of  God  to  see  the  work  for  which  he  labored  so 
earnestly  consummated  so  grandly. 

THE  REV.  J.  TRUMBULL  BACKUS,  D.D.,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

J.  Trumbull  Backus,  son  of  E.  F.  Backus,  was  bom  in  the  city  of  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  January  27,  1809.  He  was  prepared  for  college  at  the  Albany  Academy, 
and  graduated  at  Columbia  College,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  1827.  He  re- 
ceived from  that  Institution  the  degree  of  A.M.  in  1830.  He  pursued  his  the- 
ological studies  at  Princeton  from  1827  to  1830,  at  Andover  from  1830 
to  1 83 1,  and  at  New  Haven  during  the  last  half  of  the  year  1S32.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1S30. 
He  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Albany,  in  December,  1832.  Pie 
received  the  honorary  degree  of  S.T.D.  from  Union  College  in  1847.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  seven  General  Assemblies,  and  has  served  the  Church  on  many 
important  Committees.  He  was  one  of  the  Committee  that  prepared  the  Hynnnal. 
He  was  unanimously  elected  Moderator  of  the  First  Reunited  Assembly  of  1870. 
In  the  discharge  of  his  duties  in  this  high  office  he  gained  the  commendation  of  all 
his  brethren,  for  the  impartiality,  suavity,  and  dignity  with  which  he  presided  over 
the  deliberations  of  the  Assembly. 

THE  REV.  PHINEAS  D.  GURLEY,  D.D.,  Washington,  D.  C. 
See  Biographical  Sketches,  etc.,  page  336. 

THE  REV.  JOSEPH  G.  MONFORT,  D.D.,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Joseph  Glass  Monfort,  son  of  Rev.  Francis  and  Sophia  (Glass)  Monfort, 
was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  December  9,  1810.  His  father,  who  was  for 
many  years  pastor  of  Hamilton,  Ohio,  and  Mount  Carmel,  Ind.,  was  of  Hugue- 
not ancestry,  and  himself  was  born  in  Adams  County,  Pa.  Dr.  Monfort  grad- 
uated in  Miami  University,  Oxford,  Ohio,  in  1834.  He  pursued  his  theological 
studies  in  1835  and  1836,  in  Indiana  Theological  Seminary,  at  Hanover,  Indiana. 
In  1836  and  1837,  he,  in  connection  with  Dr.  W.  L.  Breckinridge,  established  and 
edited  the  ♦'  Presbyterian  Herald  "  at  Louisville,  Ky.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
in  September,  1837,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Oxford.  He  preached  six  months  in 
Hamilton,  Ohio,  from  the  date  of  his  father's  resignation  of  that  charge.  He 
received  and  accepted  a  call  from  Greensburg,  Ind.,  in  1838,  and  was  ordained 
and  installed  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Greensburg  and  Sand  Creek  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Indianapolis,  in  April,  1839.  The  church  of  Greensburg  divided  a 
few  weeks  before  his  call,  soon  after  the  Assembly  of  1838.  He  resigned  his 
charge  in  October,  1842,  on  account  of  the  division.  In  two  years  after  htf  was 
agent  for  the  Theological  Seminary  at  New  Albany,  Ind.  In  October,  1S44,  he 
was  recalled  to  Greensburg,  both  divisions  of  the  congregation  uniting  in  the  in- 


EXPLANATORY    AND    STATISTICAL.  709 

vitation.  This  call  he  accepted,  and  remained  pastor  at  Greensburg  until  Jan- 
U'lry,  1S55,  when  he  was  invited  by  the  vote  of  the  S}Tiod  of  Indiana,  and  by  a 
circular  letter  signed  by  a  large  majority  of  the  Synods  of  Northern  Indiana,  Cin- 
cinnati, and  Ohio,  through  the  agency  of  Rev.  Drs.  E.  D.  MacMaster,  J.  E. 
Thomas,  and  J.  M.  Stevenson,  to  become  the  editor  of  the  "  Presbyterian  of  the 
West,"  Cincinnati,  from  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  N.  L.  Rice  had  recently  retired. 
He  has  since  conducted  tliis  paper,  first  changing  its  name  to  "The  Presbyter," 
and  in  October,  1S69,  uniting  with  the  New  School  paper  at  Cincinnati,  under 
the  name  "Herald  and  Presbyter."  He  was  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Presbytery 
of  White  Water  from  its  erection  until  his  removal  to  Cincinnati. 

He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  S.T.D.  from  Centre  College,  Kentucky,  in 
1853.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Church  Extension  Commit- 
tee and  of  the  Boards  of  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missions,  and  a  Trustee  of  Han- 
over College,  Indiana.  For  several  years  he  was  a  Director  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  of  the  Northwest,  and  he  is  now  a  Trustee  of  Lane  Theological  Sem- 
inary, at  Walnut  Hills,  Cincinnati. 

For  ten  years  Dr.  Monfort  has  been  an  earnest  advocate  in  his  paper  of  the 
reunion  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  the  author  of  the  Newark  paper  on 
Reunion,  which  was  signed  by  seventy  ministers  and  forty  Ruling  Elders  in  at- 
tendance upon  the  General  Assembly  in  1864.  He  was  the  founder  and  editor  of 
the  "  Reunion  Presbyterian,"  in  1S65.  He  was  the  author  of  the  paper  adopted 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  1866,  proposing  negotiations  for  reunion.  He  was 
appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1866  a  member  of  the  Joint  Committee  on 
Reunion.  He  was  the  author  and  mover  of  the  supplementary  action  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  in  Albany  in  1S6S,  proposing  to  the  other  Assembly  a  change  of 
the  Basis,  so  as  to  make  its  doctrinal  theories  the  standards  pure  and  simple.  He 
was  the  author  of  an  article  in  the  "American  and  Presbyterian  Review"  which 
was  sent  to  all  the  ministers  of  both  Churches,  proposing  union  upon  the  stand- 
ards alone  as  the  proper  basis. 

THE  REV,  WILLIAM  D.  HOWARD,  D.D.,  Allegheny  City,  Pa. 

William  D.  Howard,  the  son  of  Caleb  and  Julia  (McCartee)  Howard,  was 
bom  in  Philadelphia,  on  July  28,  1814.  His  father  was  a  native  of  New  England 
and  his  mother  of  Pennsylvania.  Her  ancestors  belonged  to  the  Society  of 
Friends.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  became  a  member  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Philadelphia,  then  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Sanford. 
In  the  following  year  he  began  his  studies  with  a  view  to  the  ministry,  in  tlie  Man- 
ual Latin  Academy  at  Germantown,  Pa.  When  this  Institution  was  merged  into 
La  Fayette  College  at  Easton,  he  removed  to  that  place  and  continued  his  studies 
there.  In  1833  he  returned  to  Germantown,  and  pursued  theological  studies 
under  the  superintendence  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Neill.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Second  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  in  October,  1837  ;  and  on  March 
13,  1838,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 


710  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Frankford,  Pa.  His  ministry  in  Frankford  was  a  highly  successful  one.  Id 
1S49  ^^  received  a  call  from  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pittsburg. 
This  call  he  accepted,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church  by  the  Presbytery  ol 
Ohio,  on  May  i6th,  1849.  With  this  church  he  still  remains.  Under  his  min- 
istry it  has  greatly  prospered,  and  increased  largely  in  numbers,  liberality,  and  effi- 
ciency. He  received  the  degree  of  S.T.D.,  in  1853,  from  Washington  College, 
Pa. 

For  several  years  Dr.  Howard  was  a  Trustee  of  Washmgton  College.  He  is 
now,  as  he  has  been  for  a  number  of  years.  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  the  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania,  located  in  Pittsburg.  In  1S49  ^^^ 
was  elected  a  Director  of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  at  Allegheny  City, 
and  this  position  he  still  holds.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Boards  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Since 
the  organization  of  the  General  Assemulj's  Committee  on  Freedmen,  Dr.  Iloward 
has  been  a  member  of  it,  and  was  for  the  first  year  its  Chairman.  This  place  he 
resigned,  under  the  impression  that  he  would  leave  Pittsburg  for  Cincinnati.  In 
1857  he  preached  a  sermon  before  the  General  Assembly  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  by 
appointment  of  the  previous  Assembly,  in  behalf  of  Domestic  Missions.  This 
discourse  was  afterwards  published  by  the  Board.  Dr.  Howard  is  the  author  of 
many  sermons  published  by  request.  A  number  of  these  were  preached  before 
the  Synod  of  Pittsburg,  the  others  were  delivered  on  various  special  occasions  — 
as  installations,  in  commemoration  of  deceased  friends  in  the  ministry,  etc. 

Dr.  Howard  remains  in  Pittsburg,  though  he  has  repeatedly  been  solicited  to 
leave  for  charges  in  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  New  York.  In  1S66  he  had  a 
most  urgent  call  to  the  First  Church  of  Cincinnati,  which  he  thought  it  his  duty 
to  accept,  but  the  Presbytery,  in  response  to  the  earnest  desues  of  the  church  ol 
Pittsburg,  unanimously  declined  to  dissolve  the  relations  between  Dr.  Howard  and 
them,  and  the  result  has  proven  that  the  decision  was  a  wise  one  ;  for  few  things 
are  better  known  than  that  no  man  is  more  beloved  than  is  this  pastor,  or  more 
abundantly  usefuL 

THE  REV.  WILLIAM  E.  SCHENCK,  D.D.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

William  Edward  Schenck,  the  son  of  John  C.  and  Ann  B.  (Hutchinson) 
Schenck,  was  born  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  March  29,  1819.  His  ancestors 
came  to  this  country  from  Holland  about  the  year  1730.  They  first  settled  at 
Flatlands,  L.  I.,  but  soon  removed  to  Pleasant  Valley,  Monmouth  County,  N.J., 
where  Garrett  Schenck,  at  that  tinie  the  head  of  the  family,  had  purchased  a  large 
tract  of  land.  Garrett  Schenck  was  a  Ruling  Elder  in  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 
and  through  his  exertions  mamly  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  Holmdel  was 
founded.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Legislature.  One  of  his 
descendants,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  removed  to  the  vicmity 
of  Princeton,  and  purchased  a  large  farm  there.  The  ancestors  of  Dr.  Schenck  for 
seven  generations  were  pious  persons,  and  members,  several  of  them  ruling  elder  i, 


EXPLANATORY   AND     STATISTICAL.  711 

of  the  Church.  He  received  his  education  at  Princeton,  at  the  academy  of  the 
Rev.  Robert  Baird,  D.D.,  at  Edge  Hill,  then  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Robert 
Patton,  D.D.,  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  entering  the  Freshman  class  in  1834, 
and  graduating  in  1S3S.  On  graduating  he  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  law, 
which  he  pursued  for  more  than  a  year  under  the  care  of  James  S.  Green,  Esq. , 
of  Princeton.  Before  the  end  of  this  time  his  religious  views  underwent  a  change, 
and  he  united  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Princeton,  of  which  the  Rev. 
Benjamin  H.  Rice,  D.D.,  was  pastor.  He  soon  after  decided  to  study  for  the 
mmistry,  and  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  from  which  institu- 
tion he  graduated  in  1842.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  Brunswick,  April  27,  1842.  By  the  advice  of  the  Rev.  Archibald  Al- 
exander, and  the  Rev.  Richard  Webster,  of  Mauch  Chunk,  Pa.,  he  devoted  the  sum- 
mer after  he  had  received  license  to  missionary  work  among  the  coal-mming  popula- 
tion of  Schuylkill  County,  Pa.  Returning  to  Princeton,  he  was  called  to  be  the  pas- 
tor of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Manchester,  Monmouth  County,  N.  J.  This  call 
he  accepted,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick, 
February  28,  1843.  In  1845  he  was  invited  to  undertake  a  new  church  enter- 
prise in  the  city  of  New  Yorlc.  This  invitation  he  accepted,  and  the  Hammond 
Street  Church  was  organized,  in  which  his  labors  were  largely  blessed.  In  the 
midst  of  his  labors  in  New  York,  in  the  beginning  of  1848,  he  received  an  earnest 
call  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Princeton,  N.  J. 
In  this  call  all  the  Professors  of  the  College  and  of  the  Theological  Semmary 
warmly  united.  He  was  installed  at  Princeton,  May  7,  1848.  During  his  pas- 
torate there  the  church  received  numerous  accessions,  especially  in  1850,  in  which 
a  powerful  revival  occurred,  which  added  to  the  church  more  than  eighty  persons. 
While  Dr.  Schenck  was  settled  at  Princeton,  those  eminent  and  venerable  men, 
Dr.  Samuel  Miller  and  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  died,  and  he  was  called  to  at- 
tend upon  them  in  their  last  hours  upon  the  earth.  In  April,  1S52,  Mr.  Schenck 
was  induced  to  leave  Princeton  to  accept  the  office  of  Superintendent  of  Church 
Extension  in  Philadelphia.  This  office  he  held  for  two  years,  when  he  was  elected 
Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Publication,  and  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  that  office  November  i,  1854.  In  this  position  he  has  now  served  the  Church 
with  faithfulness  and  ability  for  nearly  twenty  years.  He  received  the  honorary 
degree  of  S.T.D.  from  Jefferson  College  in  the  year  1859. 
In  1862  the  General  Assembly  elected  him  Permanent  Clerk. 

THE  REV.  VILLEROY  D.  REED,  D.D.,  Camden,  N.  J. 

ViLLEROY  D.  Reed,  the  son  of  Kitchel  and  Sallie  (Dibble)  Reed,  was  bom  in 
Granville,  Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  April  27,  1815.  His  paternal  ancestor 
was  John  Reed,  an  officer  in  Cromwell's  army,  who,  after  the  Restoration  in 
England,  fled  to  this  country  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Norwalk,  Conn.  From 
this  place  his  grandfather,  after  the  Revolutionary  war,  removed  to  Northern  New 
York,  then  a  wilderness.     When  he  was  five  years  of  age  his  father  removed  to 


712  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

J.ansingburg,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  brought  up.  At  the  age  of  twelve  he  was  re- 
ceived into  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Lansingburg,  then  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Blatchford,  D.D.  From  this  time  he  was  very  anxious 
to  prepare  for  the  ministry,  but  many  difficulties  were  in  his  way,  because  of  the 
straitened  pecuniary  circumstances  of  his  father.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  taught  a 
district  school  to  secure  funds  for  college  ;  and  from  that  time  till  he  was  licensed 
to  preach  he  taught  more  or  less  every  year.  In  September,  1S32,  he  entered 
the  Junior  Class  of  Union  College,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  though  compelled  to 
labor  in  various  ways  to  procure  the  means  to  meet  his  expenses  (for  he  never 
obtained  any  assistance  from  the  Church),  he  graduated  in  1835  with  his  class,  and 
with  as  high  a  grade  of  scholarship  as  any  other  member.  He  was  tutor  in  Union 
College  for  one  year.  For  more  than  a  year  he  taught  an  academy  in  Waterford, 
N.  Y.  While  thus  engaged  he  studied  Hebrew  with  Professor  Taylor  Lewis,  of 
Union  College,  and  Theology  as  he  best  could.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Troy  (O.  S. ),  in  the  Synod  of  Albany,  August  29,  1838.  After  his  licensure  he 
entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  graduated  in  1839. 
He  accepted  a  call  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Stillwater,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  by  the  Presbytery  of  Albany,  Decem- 
ber 18,  1839.  Here  he  remained,  with  many  tokens  of  the  Divine  favor  upon  his 
ministry,  till  the  spring  of  1844,  when  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  from  the 
church  of  his  youth,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Lansingburg,  over  which  he 
was  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Troy,  July  9,  1844.  He  continued  in  Lansing- 
burg fourteen  years,  during  which  the  church  greatly  prospered.  In  the  autumn 
of  1857  the  Synod  of  Iowa  elected  him  President  of  Alexander  College,  estab- 
lished at  Dubuque,  Iowa.  This  invitation  he  accepted  after  six  months'  deliberE- 
tion,  being  strongly  urged  thereto  by  the  Rev.  Drs.  Van  Rennsalaer  and  Chester, 
at  that  time  the  Secretaries  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Against  the  remonstrances  of  his  church,  the  Presbytery,  with  whom  the 
decision  was  left,  decided  that  it  was  his  duty  to  go ;  and  accordingly  he  left  his 
pleasant  home  and  strongly  attached  people,  to  deVote,  as  he  thought,  the  remain- 
ing years  of  his  life  to  educational  and  missionary  labors  beyond  the  Mississippi. 
The  times,  however,  were  not  propitious.  The  college  suffered  in  the  financial 
tornado  which  soon  swept  over  the  country,  and  it  became  evident  that  its  opera- 
tions must  cease,  for  a  time  at  least.  In  this  crisis  Mr.  Reed  was  invited  to 
preach  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  as  supply  for  six  months  of  the  church  of  which  the 
Rev.  Dr.  John  C.  Lord  was,  as  he  is  still,  the  pastor,  and  afterwards  in  organiz- 
ing and  preaching  to  Calvary  Church  in  connection  with  the  effort  of  Mr.  George 
Palmer,  who  soon  after  built  the  elegant  edifice  on  Delaware  avenue  (now  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  Rev.  Alexander  McLean),  and  presented  it  to  the  Church. 
While  at  Buffalo,  it  became  evident  that  the  college  enterprise  must  be  aban- 
doned, and  Dr.  Reed  accepted  a  call  from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Cam- 
den, N.  J.,  over  which  he  was  installed  pastor  by  the  Presbytery  of  West  Jersey, 
November  20,  1 861,  where  he  still  remains. 

The  honorary  degree  of  S.T.D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Union  College, 


EXPLANATORY   AND     STA'HSTICAL.  713 

Schenectady,  July  29,  1858.     Dr.  Reed  has  been  for  some  years  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  and  has  served  upon  its  Executive  Committee. 

THE  REV.  FREDERICK  T.  BROWN,  D.D.,  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

Frederick  T.  Brown,  the  son  of  William  and  Eleanor  (Lyons)  Brown, 
was  born  in  West  Carlisle,  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  till  six 
months  before  leaving  home  pennanently  for  school  His  father's  father  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  was  a  minister  of  some  branch  of  the  German  Church. 
His  father  became  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  St.  Clairsville,  Ohio, 
early  in  life,  and  later  was  a  ruling  elder.  His  mother  was  from  the  north  of  Ire- 
land, was  connected  with  the  Arbuthnots,  and  had  Huguenot  blood  in  her  veins. 
She  was  an  eminently  godly  woman,  but  always  cheerful  and  pleasant.  His 
parents  were  married  in  St.  Clairsville,  and  there  his  brothers.  Rev.  J.  C.  Brown, 
D.D.,  Colonel  W.  L.  Brown  (killed  at  Bull  Run),  and  Rev.  H.  A.  Brown,  of 
Va.,  were  born.  When  the  family  removed  to  Coshocton  County  the  country 
was  as  wild  as  Colorado  and  Montana  now  are,  and  he  grew  up  familiar  with 
Indians,  hunters,  hxmting,  fishing,  and  nature  in  all  its  wildness.  A  good  deal  of 
this  passed  into  him  and  became  part  of  him,  and  is  probably  the  reason  why  he 
has  always  enjoyed  most  a  Western  and  frontier  life.  He  was  sent  to  the  prepara- 
tory school  of  Jefferson  College,  at  Canonsburg,  Pa.,  in  1S40.  There  he  remained 
two  years  and  a  half,  or  to  the  end  of  the  Freshman  year.  In  the  year  1S42  he 
entered  the  Sophomore  class  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  at  Princeton,  N.  J., 
where  he  gi-aduated  in  1845.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  entered  the  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  at  Princeton,  and  remained  one  seminary  year.  Then,  at  the  request 
of  Dr.  Robert  Baird,  and  under  the  auspices  of  the  Foreign  Evangelical  Society, 
he  went  to  Geneva,  Switzerland,  to  study  there,  if  the  way  were  clear,  to  remain  in 
Europe,  preaching  to  some  French  or  other  church.  After  counselling  freely  with 
Dr.  D'Aubigne,  Malan,  and  others,  he  was  convinced  the  scheme  was  not  practic- 
able, dissolved  his  connection  with  the  Society,  returned  the  money  advanced,  and 
more,  and  remained  to  study  as  he  thought  best.  After  good  part  of  two  sem- 
inary years  there  (and  having  travelled  a  good  deal  on  the  Continent  and  in  Eng- 
land) he  returned  to  the  United  States,  and  spent  another  term  at  the  Seminary 
at  Princeton.  He  was  licensed  and  ordained  as  an  Evangelist  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Logansport,  in  the  Synod  of  Northern  Indiana.  The  spring  and  summer  of 
1847  he  spent  in  Dayton,  O.,  supplying  the  pulpit  of  the  First  Church  during  Dr. 
W.  C.  Anderson's  absence  in  Europe.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  accepted  a 
call  to  the  First  Church  in  Madison,  Ind.  In  the  spring  of  1853  he  went  to 
Cleveland,  O.,  organized  the  Westminster  Church,  and  remained  there  till  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  he  resigned  to  serve  as  chaplain  in  the  army.  In 
1862  he  was  called  to  the  Bridge  Street  Church,  Georgetown,  D.  C.  Here  be 
remained  three  years,  and  resigned  to  accept  an  urgent  call  to  Chicago,  III  After 
continuing  in  Chicago  a  short  time,  he  resigned,  and  soon  afterwards  accepted  a 
call   to   the   Central  Church   of  St.  Paul,   of  which  he  was  pxstor  for  several 


714  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCn. 


years.     In  1864  he  received  the  honorary  degree  of  S.T.D.,  from  La   Fayettf 
College,  at  Easton,  Pa. 


THE  REV.   J.  EDSON  ROCKWELL,  D.D.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

J.  Edson  Rockwell,  the  son  of  Warren  and  Sarah  R.  (Wells)  Rockwell, 
was  born  at  Salisbury,  Vt.,  May  4,  1S16.  His  father's  father,  who  for  nearly 
twenty  years  represented  his  native  town  in  the  Legislature  of  the  State,  and  liis 
father  were  both  successively  deacons  in  the  same  church  at  East  Windsor,  and 
were  descended  from  a  pious  ancestry,  who,  as  early  as  1626,  came  from  Yorkshire 
to  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  for  their  attachment  to  the  Puritan  faith.  Warren 
Rockwell  died  at  an  advanced  age  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  1866.  He  was  a  man 
eminent  for  his  intelligent  piety  and  devotedness  to  the  service  of  his  Saviour,  whom 
he  imitated  most  closely,  "  in  going  about  doing  good."  His  son  passed  his  aca- 
demical studies  at  the  Hudson  Academy,  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  to  which  place  his 
father  removed  in  the  spring  of  181 7.  In  this  academy  he  was  a  schoolmate 
of  Gen.  II.  W.  Halleck.  He  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  Mass.,  Aug. 
24,  1837,  and  at  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  June  30,  1841.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Columbia,  April  21,  1841,  and  was 
ordained  and  installed,  by  the  same  Presbytery,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Valatie,  N.  Y.,  October  13,  1841.  He  remained  with  this  charge  imtil  called 
to  the  Hanover  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  Wilmington,  Delaware,  over  which 
lie  was  installed,  May  4,  1847.  Nearly  four  years  later,  on  the  13th  February, 
185 1,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  then  located  on  Willoughby  street.  Here  Mr.  Rockwell  remained  seventeen 
years.  When  he  entered  upon  his  duties  in  Brooklyn,  the  membership  of  the 
church  was  only  one  hundred  and  twenty.  Under  his  ministry  eight  hundred  were 
added,  of  which  nearly  one-half  was  by  profession  of  their  faith.  In  September, 
1868,  he  removed  from  Brooklyn  to  Stapleton,  S.  I.,  at  the  call  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Edgewater,  to  which  he  still  ministers.  He  received  the  honorary 
degree  of  S.T.D.  from  Jefferson  College,  at  Canonsburg,  Pa.,  in  1S59.  Dr. 
Rockwell  has  been  a  constant  contributor  to  the  religious  and  secular  press.  He 
is  the  author  of  several  works,  viz.:  "Sketches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church," 
"Young  Christian  Warned,"  "The  Sheet  Anchor,"  "The  Visitor's  Questions," 
"Scenes  and  Impressions  Abroad,"  and  "Seed  Thoughts."  Besides  these,  lie 
has  published  a  number  of  sermons  and  addresses,  delivered  on  special  occasions  ; 
among  which  may  be  mentioned,  "  A  Plea  for  the  Eldership,"  "  Christ  Walking 
on  the  Water,"  "  The  Christian's  Work  and  Rest,"  "  On  the  Death  of  President 
Taylor,"  "  On  the  Death  of  President  Lincoln,"  "  Fruitfulness  in  Old  Age." 

He  has  been  for  some  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Publication,  and  at  one 
time  was  the  editor  of  "  The  Sabbath  School  Visitor,"  published  by  the  Board. 
He  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  the  Reunion  of  the  Presbyte- 
jdan  Church  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1S67,  in  the  place  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 


EXPLANATORY    AND     STATISTICAL.  7 15 


Krebs,  who  was  incapacitated  by  the  illness  wliich  terminated  in  his  lamented 
death. 


THE    REV.   THOMAS    BRAINERD,   D.D.,   Philadelphia,   Pa. 

See  Biographical  Sketches,  etc,  page  387. 

THE   REV.  WILLIAM   ADAMS,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  New  York  City. 

William  Adams,  the  son  of  John  Adams,  LL.D.,  and  Elizabeth  (Ripley) 
Adams,  was  born  in  Colchester,  Connecticut,  January  25,  1807.  His  parents 
removed  in  his  infancy  to  Andover,  Mass. ,  where  his  father  became  the  Principal 
of  Phillips  Academy.  Few  men  have  lived  of  more  rigid  and  conscientious  integ- 
rity than  John  Adams,  and  few  educators  have  been  as  distinguished  in  the  train- 
ing of  youth  who  afterwards  were  eminent  in  the  various  spheres  of  active  and 
professional  life.  Dr.  Adams  lived  to  the  great  age  of  ninety-one,  to  enjoy  the 
abundant  evidence  that  his  labors  were  not  in  vain.  He  was  a  descendant  of  the 
old  stock  of  Henry  Adams,  which  has  given  two  Presidents  to  the  United  States. 
His  wife  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Governor  Bradford,  of  the  May  Flower. 

Their  son  was  educated  at  Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  from  which  he  entered 
Yale  College,  New  Haven,  and  graduated  in  1827.  His  theological  studies  were 
pursued  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
Boston,  by  the  Suffolk  South  Association,  in  the  spring  of  1830.  Immediately 
after  leaving  the  Seminary,  in  September,  1830,  he  was  invited  to  the  pastorate 
of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Brighton,  Mass.,  where  he  was  ordained  and 
installed  in  February,  1 831.  Leaving  that  place,  because  of  the  illness  of  his 
wife,  he  was  invited  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  Broome  Street  Church  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  in  the  summer  of  1834.  This  invitation  he  accepted,  and  he 
was  installed  over  the  church  in  November,  1834,  by  the  Thu-d  Presbytery  of 
New  York.  In  1853,  the  church  erected  a  new  and  splendid  building  on  the 
comer  of  Madison  avenue  and  Twenty-fourth  street,  in  which  Dr.  Adams 
continued  to  preach  until  his  election  as  President  and  Professor  in-Union  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  in  1873,  after  a  pastorate  of  forty  years  in  the  same  congregation.  He 
received  the  honorary  degree  of  S.T.D.,  in  1842,  from  the  University  of  the 
City  of  New  York,  and  of  L.L.D.  from  "  The  College  of  New  Jersey,"  at  Prince- 
ton, in  1869.  Dr.  Adams  has  occupied  a  very  prominent  position  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  from  the  time  he  entered  its  ministry,  and  has  received  from  the 
Church  many  marks  of  its  appreciation  of  his  abilities  and  virture.  He  was  Mod- 
erator of  the  General  Assembly  which  met  in  the  city  of  Washington  in  the  year 
1852,  and  has  been  a  most  influential  member  of  several  of  the  standing  commit- 
tees of  the  General  Assembly  from  the  time  of  their  organization.  His  published 
works  consist  in  part  of  sermons  printed  in  the  «« National  Preacher"  and  in 
pamphet  form.  Among  these  is  one  to  the  memory  of  Professor  Moses  Stuart, 
which  "  is  a  beautiful  wreath  laid  by  a  grateful  pupil  upon  the  grave  of  his  beloved 


716  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

teacher  and  intimate  friend."  Besides  these,  he  has  published  several  vohimen 
which  have  had  extended  circulation,  and  are  highly  appreciated  by  the  Christiai 
community,  alike  for  the  perfectness  of  their  style  and  the  ability  with  which  their 
important  themes  are  treated.  These  are,  "The  Three  Gardens,"  ♦'Thanksgiv- 
ing Memories  of  the  Day,  and  Helps  to  the  Habit,"  and  "Conversations  of  Jesus 
Christ  with  Representative  Men." 

Dr.  Adams'  life  has  been  spent  chiefly  in  his  study  and  among  his  own  people, 
he  having  little  taste  for  ecclesiastical  affairs.  The  Assembly  of  1866,  which  met 
in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  however,  having  appointed  him  on  the  Committee  on 
Reunion,  he  earnestly  engaged  in  its  duties,  with  signal  honor  to  himself,  and  \vith 
great  influence  in  furthering  the  end  in  view.  Perhaps  it  is  not  too  much  to  say 
that  his  speeches  delivered  in  New  York  and  Pittsburg,  both  as  Commissioner  from 
the  General  Assembly  of  his  own  Church  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  other 
branch,  and  as  member  of  the  Committee  on  Reunion,  contributed  most  power- 
fully to  the  conviction  which  seemed  finally  to  become  unanimous,  that  Reunion 
was  safe  and  right,  and  most  glorifying  to  God.  In  New  York,  in  which  city  he 
has  resided  so  long,  his  name  is  identified  with  many  institutions  of  learning  and 
benevolence,  and  his  fame  as  a  good  man  and  devoted  to  good,  bringing  to  the 
promotion  of  every  right  cause  rare  abilities  both  of  mind  and  heart,  is  through- 
out the  land,  and  •';«  regions  beyond.''^ 

THE  REV.  EDWIN  F.  HATFIELD,  D.D.,  New  York  City. 

Edwin  F.  PIatfield,  the  son  of  Oliver  S.  and  Jane  (Mann)  Hatfield,  was 
born  in  Elizabethtown,  N.  J.,  January  9,  1S07.  His  father  was  a  descendant  of 
Matthias  Hatfield,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  town  in  1665.  His  mother  was  a 
descendant  of  John  Woodruff,  another  founder  of  the  town,  and  of  John  Ward,  Jr., 
and  Richard  Harrison,  founders  of  Newark,  N.  J.  He  made  a  public  profession  of 
his  faith  in  Christ  in  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  city  of  New  York,  on 
March  25,  1827.  He  graduated  at  Middlebury  College,  Vt.,  in  1829;  studied 
theology  at  the  Seminary  in  Andover,  Ma-is.,  1829-31  ;  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
Gospel  by  the  Third  Presbytery  of  New  York,  October  6,  1831,  and  ordained  by 
the  same  Presbytery  at  New  York,  May  14,  1832.  From  October,  1831,  to  Feb- 
ruary, 1832,  he  preached  at  Rockaway,  N.  J.,  as  an  assistant  of  the  Rev.  Barnabas 
King,  D.D.  ;  and  from  March,  1832,  to  September,  1832,  at  Orange,  N.  J.,  as 
an  assistant  of  the  Rev.  Asa  R.  Hillyer,  D.D.  ;  was  pastor  of  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Church  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  from  October,  1832,  to  February,  1S35  ;  of  the 
Seventh  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  York,  from  July,  1835,  to  February,  1S56  ; 
and  of  the  North  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  York,  from  February',  1856,  to 
October,  1S63.  Resigned  and  retired  from  the  pastoral  work  on  account  of  loss 
of  health.  Remained  one  year  in  retirement,  when  he  became  special  agent  of 
the  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  New  York,  December,  1864,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  obtained  for  the  Seminary  an  endowment  of  $150,000.  Two  years 
were  then  occupied  in  writing  and  preparing  for  the  press  a  "  History  of  Elizabeth, 


EXPLANATORY    AND     STATISTICAL.  ^17 

N.  J.,"  702  pp.,  8vo.  In  May,  1S68,  he  took  the  place  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kendall, 
Secretary  of  the  Presbyterian  Committee  of  Home  Missions  (abroad  for  his 
health),  till  October,  1S68,  from  which  time  he  has  been  Secretary  of  the  Freed- 
men's  Department  of  the  same  Committee.  In  January,  1870,  he  again  became 
special  agent  of  the  Union  Theological  Seminary  to  raise  ^500,000,  of  which  sum 
he  has  already  secured  the  one-half.  He  has  been  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Third  Pres- 
bytery of  New  York  since  October,  1838,  and  of  the  General  Assembly  since 
May,  1846.  He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  S.T.D.  in  1850,  from  Marietta 
College,  Ohio. 

Dr.  Hatfield's  pastoral  life  was  a  most  active  and  fruitful  one.  During  his 
ministry  in  the  Seventh  Church  in  New  York,  1556  persons  were  received  into 
the  communion  of  the  church  on  examination,  and  662  by  certificate  from  other 
churches ;  and  in  all  other  respects  the  church  was  greatly  strengthened.  The 
same  devotedness  which  he  displayed  as  pastor  he  has  carried  into  the  other  work 
which  has  been  devolved  upon  him,  and  amidst  his  activities  he  has  found  time  to 
become  the  author  of  a  number  of  valuable  works,  of  which  the  principal  are, 
"  Universalism  as  it  is,"  1841  ;  "  Memoir  of  Elihu  W.  Baldwin,  D.  D.,"  1S43 ; 
"St.  Helena  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,"  1852  ;  and  "The  History  of  Eliza- 
beth, N.  J.,"  186S.  He  is  now  engaged  in  providing  suitable  accommodations 
for  Union  Theological  Seminary,  on  the  grounds  recently  purchased  on  Harlem 
Heights,  and  completing  the  endowment  of  the  Seminary. 

THE  REV.  JONATHAN  F.  STEARNS,  D.D.,  Newark,  N.  J. 

Jonathan  F.  Stearns,  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Steams,  was  born  in 
Bedford,  Mass.,  where  his  father  was  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church,  his 
only  charge,  for  a  period  of  forty  years.  He  was  prepared  for  college  at  Phillips 
Academy,  Andover,  Mass.  ;  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  Cambridge,  in 
1830;  and  studied  theology  partly  at  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  and  partly 
under  the  direction  of  his  father.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Wobum  As- 
sociation in  Massachusetts,  in  October,  1834,  and  was  ordained,  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newbur}'port,  Mass.,  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Londonderry,  in  the  Synod  of  Albany,  on  September  16,  1835.  Beneath  the 
pulpit  of  this  church  repose  the  remains  of  George  Whitefield.  In  1836  he  was  a 
commissioner  from  the  Presbytery  of  Londonderry  to  the  General  Assembly  in 
Pittsburg.  His  ministry  at  Newburyport  continued  fourteen  years.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1849,  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newark, 
N.  J.,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  that  church  by  the  Presbytery  of  Newark  in 
December  of  the  same  year.  He  still  continues  the  honored  pastor  of  this  import- 
ant and  ancient  charge.  He  received  the  degree  of  S.T.D.  from  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  at  Princeton,  in  the  year  1850.  He  was  Moderator  of  the  General 
Assembly  which  met  in  Harrisburg  in  the  year  1868.  Dr.  Steams  is  a  member 
of  several  of  the  committees  of  the  General  Assembly  for  prosecuting  the  work  of 
the  Church.     He  is  also  connected  with  literary  and  benevolent  institutions  in 


718  PRESBYTERIAT^-    CHURCH. 

Newark  and  other  places,  and  is  widely  kno^vn  as  a  foremost  man  in  the  Church 
in  promoting  every  good  work. 

THE  REV.   PHILEMON  H.  FOWLER,  D.D.,  Utica,  N.  Y. 

Philemon  H.  Fowler,  the  son  of  William  and  Margaret  Fowler,  was  bom 
In  Albany,  N.  Y.,  February  9,  18 14.  He  was  educated  at  the  Albany  Academy, 
Hobart  College  at  Geneva,  and  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  N.  J. ; 
entering  college  in  1828  and  graduating  in  1832  ;  entering  the  Theological  Sem- 
inary in  1833,  and  graduating  in  1836.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Albany,  on  October  15,  1835,  and  ordained  by  the  same  Pres- 
bytery, sine  tittilo,  in  1836.  He  was  called  to  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Washington,  D.  C. ,  before  leaving  the  seminary,  and  remained  in  charge  of  the 
Church  without  installation  from  the  autumn  of  1836  to  the  autumn  of  1S39  ;  at 
which  time  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Elmira,  N. 
Y.,  over  which  he  was  installed  pastor.  In  this  charge  he  continued  till  the  close 
of  the  year  1850,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Utica,  N.  Y.,  in  which  charge  he  still  continues.  The  degree  of  S.  T.  D.  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  the  University  of  Norwich,  Vt.,  and,  afterwards,  the  same 
honor  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Williams  College,  Mass.  In  1869  Dr.  Fowler 
was  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  which  met  in  May  in  the  Church  of  the 
Covenant,  New  York,  and  held  an  adjourned  meeting  in  November  in  the  Third 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.  At  this  Assembly  the  Reunion  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  was  consummated,  amid  scenes  of  gratulation  and  joy  which 
must  be  forever  memorable  in  the  annals  of  the  Church.  Dr.  Fowler  occupies  a 
position  of  great  influence  in  the  Church.  His  congregation  is  large  and  active. 
He  is  a  trustee  of  Hamilton  College,  at  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  and  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.  He  is  also  a  Corporate  Member  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions. 

As  a  member  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  the  Reunion  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  his  practical  wisdom  and  good  sense,  combined  with  courteous  manners 
and  a  catholic  Christian  spirit,  made  his  services  of  great  value. 

On  two  occasions  Dr.  Fowler  has  visited  Europe.  During  the  summer  of  1S68 
he  represented  the  General  Assembly  of  his  Church  in  the  Assemblies  of  the  Free 
Church  of  Scotland  and  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Ireland. 

THE  REV.  JAMES  B.  SHAW,  D.D.,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

James  Boylan  Shaw,  the  son  of  James  and  Margaret  Shaw,  was  bom  in  the 
city  of  New  York  in  the  year  i8o8.  He  was  among  the  first  children  on  whose 
heads  the  venerable  Gardiner  Spring  laid  his  hand  in  baptism.  He  was  fitted  to 
enter  the  Sophomore  class  in  Yale  College,  and  then  entered  the  office  of  a  physi- 
cian and  attended  a  course  of  medical  lectures.  After  that  he  entered  the  office  of 
Thomas  Addis   Emmet,  and    commenced  the  study  of  the   law.      When   he  w.is 


EXPLANATORY   AND     STATISTICAL.  719 

about  to  be  admitted  to  the  bar,  the  Lord  touched  his  heart.  He  united  with  the 
Brick  Church  of  New  York  in  1829.  In  1834,  having  been  previously  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel,  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Genesee,  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Utica.  For  thirty  years  he  has  been  pastor  of  the  Brick 
Church  of  Rochester,  which  reported  to  the  General  Assembly  which  met  in  1S69 
in  the  Church  of  the  Covenant,  New  York,  1264  members.  The  College  of  West- 
ern Reserve  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of  A.M.,  and  in  1852  the 
University  of  Rochester  gave  him  the  degree  of  S.T.D.  In  1S62  he  was  elected  a 
corporate  member  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions. 
He  was  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  which  met  in  Brooklyn  in  1865.  He 
is  a  Trustee  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  where  he  graduated 
in  1832.  He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1837,  when  the  act  of 
excision  was  passed,  and  that,  as  a  member  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  Reunion, 
he  has  had  a  part  in  healmg  the  breach,  he  counts  the  greatest  honor  of  his  life. 


THE  REV.  HENRY  L.  HITCHCOCK,  D.D.,  Hudson,  Ohio. 

Henry  L.  Hitchcock,  the  son  of  Peter  and  Nabby  Hitchcock,  was  bom  at 
Benton,  Ohio,  October  31,  1813.  His  father,  who  settled  in  Northern  Ohio  in 
1806,  was  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  for  twenty-eight  years.  He 
also  held  other  important  public  positions  at  different  times,  as  member  of  the 
State  Legislature  and  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States.  Dr.  Hitchcock  received  his  academic  education  at  Benton  Academy.  In 
September,  1829,  he  entered  the  Sophomore  class  of  Yale  College,  and  graduated 
in  1832.  For  two  years  after  graduating  he  taught  in  Benton  Academy.  He 
then  spent  one  year  in  theological  studies,  reciting  to  his  pastor,  the  Rev.  Dexter 
Witter,  after  which  he  was  a  student  in  Lane  Theological  Seminary,  Walnut  Hills, 
Ohio.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Grand  River, 
Synod  of  the  Western  Reserve,  July  25,  1837.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  by 
the  same  Presbytery  over  the  church  of  Morgan,  Ohio,  November  29,  1837.  In 
June,  1840,  he  was  dismissed  from  this  charge  to  accept  a  call  from  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Chiu-ch  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  which  had  then  been  organized  a  little 
more  than  one  year.  He  commenced  preaching  in  Columbus,  July,  1840,  and  was 
installed  pastor  of  the  church,  November  24,  1841,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Marion 
(afterwards  Franklin).  In  this  charge  he  remained  fifteen  years,  during  which  the 
church  became  strong  and  influential,  and  the  Third  Church  of  Columbus  was 
organized  from  its  membership.  This  church  afterwards  became  Congregational, 
and  is  now  a  large  and  useful  church.  Dr.  Hitchcock  became  President  of  Western 
Reserve  College,  Hudson,  Ohio,  in  July,  1855,  in  which  position  he  still  remains. 
In  addition  to  the  duties  of  the  Presidency,  he  is  the  pastor  of  the  College  Church, 
which  under  his  ministry  has  recovered  from  its  depression,  and  attained  a  good 
degree  of  prosperity. 


720  PRESBYTERIATq-   CHUKCH. 


THE  REV.  ROBERT  W.  PATTERSON,  D.D.,  Chicago,  III. 

Robert  W.  Patterson,  the  son  of  Alexander  and  Sarah  (Stevenson)  Patter- 
son, was  born  in  Blount  County,  Tennessee,  January  2i,  1814.  His  literary  course, 
preparatory  and  collegiate,  was  pursued  in  Illinois  College,  at  Jacksonville,  Illinois, 
and  his  theological  course  in  Lane  Seminary,  Walnut  Hills,  Ohio.  He  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Cincinnati  in  the  spring  of  1839,  and  was  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Ottawa,  Sept.  14,  1842  ;  and  at  the  same  time  he  was  installed  pastor 
of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Chicago,  of  which  he  is  still  the  honored 
and  beloved  pastor.  He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  S.T.D.  from  Hamilton 
College  at  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  in  July,  1857.  He  was  Moderator  of  the  General  As- 
sembly in  1859,  at  Wilmington,  Del.  He  has  been  the  recipient  of  numerous 
appointments  from  the  Church  of  which  he  has  been  so  long  a  prominent  minister. 
The  congregation  which  he  serves  has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
effective  in  the  country,  and  for  years  has  been  recognized  as  a  power  in  the  land. 
Dr.  Patterson  has  been  a  Trustee  of  the  Lake  Forest  University  at  Chicago,  from 
its  organization,  and  for  several  years  was  a  Trustee  of  Blackburn  University. 

THE  REV.  HENRY  A.  NELSON,  D.D.,  St.  Lotus,  Mo. 

Henry  A.  Nelson,  the  son  of  Seth  *  and  Sophia  (Aspinwall)  Nelson,  was 
born  in  Amherst,  Mass.,  Oct.  31,  1S20.  His  great-grandfather,  grandfather,  and 
father  were  successively  deacons  in  the  Congregational  Church  at  Milford,  Wor- 
cester County,  Mass.,  the  first -named  being  ordained  to  that  office  in  1748.  In  his 
seventh  year  his  parents  removed  into  the  State  of  New  York.  They  died  in  Cort- 
landville  —  his  father  February  5th,  1857;  his  mother  in  1S60.  His  father 
was  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  village  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  until  his  death.  He  was  prepared  for  College  at  the  Cortland  Academy  in 
Homer,  N.  Y. ,  of  which  S.  B.  Woolworth,  LL.  D. ,  now  Secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Regents  of  the  University  of  New  York,  was  then  Principal.  He  graduated  at 
Hamilton  College,  July  29,  1840;  received  from  the  trustees  of  that  institution  the 
degree  of  A.M.  in  1843,  ^-nd  the  honorary  degree  of  S.T.D.  in  1S57.  In  1SC6  he 
was  invited  to  the  Presidency  of  the  College. 

After  graduating,  he  spent  three  years  in  teaching  in  Eaton,  N.  Y.,  and  in  Ho- 
mer, N.  Y.  He  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Auburn  in  October,  1S43, 
and  graduated  in  June,  1S46.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Cortland,  in  the  church  of  Preble,  in  the  summer  of  1846.  He  was 
ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Cayuga,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian Church  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  July  29,  1846.  In  the  autumn  of  1S56,  he  was 
installed  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  In  April, 
1868,  he  resigned  that  charge,  having  been  elected  Professor  of  Systematic  and 
Pastoral  Theology  in  Lane  Theological  Seminary,  Walnut  Hills,  Ohio,  in  whicb 

*  Born  at  Milford,  Mass.,  Aug  2, 1776.     He  removed  to  Amherst,  Mass.,  in  1815. 


EXPLAISTATOUY    AXD     STATISTICAL.  721 

ofSct  he  was  inaugurated  May  13,  1868.  He  was  a  member  of  the  (general 
Assemblies  of  1850,  i860,  1867,  1868,  and  was  Moderator  of  that  of  1867  ia  Roch- 
ester, N.  Y. 

THE  REV.  GEORGE  F.  WISWELL,  D.D.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

George  F.  Wiswell  received  his  collegiate  education  at  Middlebury  College, 
Vermont,  and  graduated  from  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  in  New  York,  in 
1S44.  He  was  ordained  m  June,  1845.  He  has  been  settled  in  Southhold  and 
Peekskill,  N.  Y.,  and  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  and  is  now  the  pastor  of  the  Green 
Hill  Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadelphia.  After  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brain- 
erd  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Reunion  Committee,  and  attended  all  the 
sessions  of  the  Committee  after  the  first. 

He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  S.T.D.  in  1866,  from  Hamilton  College, 
Clinton,  N.  Y. 

JAMES  M.  RAY,  ESQ.,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

James  Mitchell  Ray,  son  of  Andrew  (from  Kippen,  Scotland),  and  Mary 
McWhorter  (McChesney)  (of  New  Jersey)  Ray,  was  born  at  Caldwell,  N.  J., 
December  23,  1800.  After  preparatory  education  in  the  city  of  New  York,  he 
was  two  years  at  Columbia  College,  until  1814,  when  the  family  removed  to  Bal- 
timore, Md.,  and  thence  to  the  West. 

In  October,  1821,  when  the  city  of  Indianapolis  was  laid  out,  Mr.  Ray  was  the 
clerk  at  the  first  sale  of  its  lots.  In  1822  he  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Circuit 
Court  of  the  county  (Marion).  In  1829  he  was  re-elected  Clerk  and  Recorder, 
which  office  he  resigned  in  1834  to  accept  the  appointment  of  Cashier  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Indiana  at  its  organization,  and  also  that  of  Clerk  of  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  Sinking  Fund,  who  had  charge  of  the  income  of  the  stock  in  the 
Bank  held  by  the  State.  In  the  management  of  these  Commissioners  the  profits  to 
the  State  reached  the  sum  of  three  and  a  quarter  millions  (3,250,000)  dollars, 
the  interest  on  which  is  forever  pledged  to  the  support  of  the  common  schools  of 
the  State. 

These  offices  he  filled  until  t^e  charter  of  the  Bank  expired  and  the  Bank  of  the 
State  of  Indiana  was  chartered.  Of  this  bank  he  was  chosen  cashier  in  January, 
1857.  This  position  he  held  until  after  the  resignation  of  the  presidency  by  the 
Hon.  Hugh  McCulloch  and  George  W.  Rathbone,  Esq.,  when  he  was  elected 
President.     This  office  he  has  continued  to  hold  till  the  present  time. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  late  civil  war,  Mr.  Ray  was  one  of  the  three  State  Com- 
missioners who  successfully  negotiated  two  millions  (2,000,000)  of  Indiana  War 
Loan  bonds,  for  the  equipping,  arming,  and  forwarding  the  volunteers  of  In- 
diana to  the  field.  During  the  entire  period  of  the  struggle  he  showed  his  deep 
interest  in  his  country's  trouble  by  Iiis  services  as  treasurer,  at  Indianapolis,  of  iho 
46 


722  PRESBYTERIAN"   CHURCH. 

Christian  Commission,  of  the  Freedmen's  Commission,  and  of  the  Indiana  Soldier's 
and  Seaman's  Home. 

Mr.  Ray  was  elected  superintendent  of  the  first  Sabbath  School  in  Indianapolis, 
in  April,  1S23.  He  united  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Indianapolis  in 
October,  1828.  He  was  chosen  elder  of  the  church  on  October  17,  1830;  which 
ofSce  he  still  holds,  in  this,  the  fortieth  year  of  his  service.  Ke  has  served  as 
Commissioner  of  his  Presbytery  at  several  sessions  of  the  General  Assembly.  In 
1866  he  was  appointed  on  the  Joint  Committee  on  the  Reunion  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  In  the  deliberations  of  this  Committee  he  took  an  active  and  import- 
ant part,  especially  at  the  important  and  decisive  meeting  held  in  Philadelphia  in 
1 868. 

When,  in  1S38,  after  the  division  of  the  Church,  fifteen  members  of  the  First 
Church  of  Indianapolis  withdrew  to  organize  the  Second  Church,  under  the  Rev. 
Henry  Ward  Beecher,  at  the  instance  of  Mr.  Ray  a  certificate  of  good  standing 
was  unanimously  given  to  the  withdrawing  members,  with  kind  expressions  of 
love,  and  desire  for  their  prosperity,  and  the  continuance  of  brotherly  affection ; 
and  at  the  same  time  a  fair  division  of  the  property  of  the  First  Church  was  satis- 
factorily made.  These  fraternal  desires  have  been  happily  fulfilled.  In  thirty- 
two  years,  these  churches,  with  their  offspring,  have  dwelt  together  in  love  and 
peace,  and  have  been  equally  blessed.  There  are  now  in  Indianapolis  eiglit 
churches,  fou'r  of  each  branch  of  the  Church,  now  privileged  to  unite  under  one 
banner,  in  name,  as  well  as  in  heart. 

HON.  ROBERT  McKNIGHT,  PitTsburg,  Pa. 

Robert  McKnight,  son  of  William  and  Catharine  McKnight,  was  bom  in 
Pittsburg,  O.,  Januaiy  27,  1820. 

He  prepared  for  College  at  Xenia,  O. ,  where  he  spent  four  years  under  the  in- 
struction of  the  Rev.  Hugh  McMillan,  and  near  Pittsburg,  where  he  was  two 
years  under  the  instruction  of  Daniel  Stone,  Esq.  He  entered  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  at  Princeton,  in  1835,  and  graduated  in  1S39. 

In  1839,  after  graduating  from  college,  he  entered  the  office  of  Richard  Biddle, 
Esq.,  as  student  of  law.  Admitted  to  the  bar  of  Allegheny  County,  Pa.,  in  1S42. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Common  Council  of  Pittsburg  in  the  years  1S4S,  1S49, 
1850,  and  during  the  last  two  was  President  of  the  Council.  He  was  elected  to 
the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  in  1858,  and  in  the  Thirty-sixth 
Congi-ess  served  on  the  Committee  of  Elections.  He  was  re-elected  to  the 
Thirty-seventh  Congress,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Foreign  Affairs. 
This  committee  reported  the  bill  for  the  recognition  of  Hayti  and  I jheria,  in  favor 
of  which  Mr.  McKnight  addressed  the  House,  and  which  became  law.  For  his 
services  in  behalf  of  the  Liberian  Republic  he  received  a  token  of  thanks  from  the 
three  Commissioners  of  Liberia.  In  the  same  Congress  he  was  placed  on  a  joint 
commission  with  two  Senators  and  two  Representatives,  Captain  Dupont,  U.  S.  N., 
and  Major-General  Gareschie,  U.  S.  A.,  to  examine  and  report  as  to  the  com- 


EXPLAJSATORY   AND    STATISTICAL.  723 

pensation  of  all  officers  of  government,  civil,  naval,  and  military.  After  leaving 
Congress,  Mr.  McKnight  served  as  Vice-President  of  the  Western  Branch  of  the 
Christian  Commission,  which  effected  such  great  benefit  for  the  troops  during  the 
late  civil  war. 

He  united  with  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church  of  Allegheny  City  (Rev.  Dr. 
Plumer,  pastor)  in  1S54.  He  was  elected  and  ordained  ruling  elder  in  the  same 
church  in  March,  1S57.  He  transferred  his  membership  to  the  North  Church  of 
Allegheny  City  (Rev.  Dr.  A.  A.  Hodge,  pastor)  in  1868,  and  was  elected  elder  in 
that  year.  He  still  serves  in  this  office  in  the  North  Church.  He  was  a  Commis- 
sioner to  the  General  Assembly  in  Pittsburg  in  1865,  in  St.  Louis  in  1866,  and  in 
Albany  in  iS6S.  In  1S62  he  was  elected  Director  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Allegheny  City.  In  1S66  he  was  appointed  on  the  Joint  Committee  on  Reunion  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  186S  he  was  appointed  on  the.  Committee  on  Re- 
union of  the  Old  and  New  School  and  United  Presbyterian  Churches.  In  1S69, 
with  the  Rev.  Drs.  Beatty  and  Musgrave,  he  represented  the  Assembly  of  his  own 
Church  in  the  General  Assembly  then  in  session  in  the  Church  of  the  Covenant,  in 
the  city  of  New  York.  By  the  General  Assembly  of  1869  he  was  appointed  on  the 
Committee  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Danville,  Ky., 
and  in  the  discharge  of  that  duty  visited  Kentucky.  This  Committee  reported  at 
the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Assembly  in  Pittsburg,  and  the  report  was  unani- 
mously adopted.  At  the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  in  Pitts- 
burg, Mr.  McKnight  was  appointed  on  the  committee  to  inquire  and  report  on 
the  best  means  of  raising  and  distributing  funds  for  the  reunited  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Mr.  McKnight's  life  has  been  one  of  honor  and  usefulness,  both  in  Church  and 
State. 

HON.  SAMUEL  GALLOWAY,  LL.D.,  Columbus,  O. 

Samuel  Galloway,  the  son  of  John  and  Margaret  Galloway,  was  bom  of 
Scotch-Irish  parentage,  in  Gettysburg,  Adams  County,  Pa.,  in  iSii.  His  father 
was  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  more  than  thirty  years,  first  under  the 
pastorate  of  the  Rev.  William  Paxton,  D.D.,  at  Marsh  Creek,  Pa.,  and  after- 
wards under  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  David  McConaughy,  in  Gettysburg.  Mr. 
Galloway  lived  in  Gettysburg  till  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1S29.  Soon  after  this 
he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  completed  his  education  at  Miami  University,  at  O.xford, 
where  he  graduated  in  1833,  with  the  highest  honors  of  his  class.  In  1833-34  he 
taught  a  classical  school  at  Hamilton,  Ohio  ;  and  in  1835  he  was  chosen  to  supply 
in  part  the  department  of  Ancient  Languages  in  Miami  University,  made  vacant 
by  the  resignation  of  Dr.  W.  H.  McGufley.  In  consequence  of  ill-health,  he 
relinquished  that  position  in  1836,  and  for  a  year  engaged  in  agiicultural  and  otlier 
active  pursuits;  after  which  he  resumed  teaching,  first  at  Springfield,  O.,  and  in 
1S39-40  as  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages  in  South  Hanover  College,  Ind. 
His  health  again  failing,  he  returned  to  Oliio,  and  commenced  rhe  study  of  law  at 


724  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Hillsboro.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1842,  and  in  1843  removed  to  Chilli' 
cothe.  In  1844  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  State,  and  removed  to  Col  imbus,  in 
which  city  he  has  since  resided.  In  1851  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In 
1854  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  National  House  of  Representatives,  and 
participated  prominently  in  the  political  conflicts  arising  out  of  the  Kansas  diffi- 
culties. 

As  Secretary  of  State,  Mr.  Galloway  was  ex-officio  Superintendent  of  Common 
Schools,  and  in  that  capacity  his  personal  efforts  and  his  annual  reports  to  the 
Legislature  inaugurated  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  public  instruction  in  Ohio,  and 
entitle  him  to  a  high  place  among  the  educational  benefactors  of  the  State.  His 
eloquent  advocacy  of  the  claims  of  teaching  to  a  much  more  honorable  and  lucra- 
tive consideration  than  it  had  received,  of  a  higher  standard  of  qualification  for  its 
duties,  of  teachers'  institutes  and  associations,  of  county  superintendency,  of  an  in- 
dependent State  superintendency,  of  school  libraries,  and  generally  of  the  undeni- 
able value  of  education  both  to  the  public  and  individuals,  arrested  the  attention 
•  if  public  men,  and  prepared  the  way  for  the  associated  and  legislative  action  which 
lollowed.  Of  the  State  Teachers'  Association,  which  was  formed  in  December, 
1847,  he  was  elected  the  first  president,  and  has  often  responded  to  invitations  to 
address  educational  conventions  and  associations.  In  all  philanthropic  movements 
he  has  always  taken  a  very  prominent  part,  although  his  special  line  of  study  and 
activity  has  been  in  the  sphere  of  political  life,  and  law.  In  his  own  chosen  field, 
before  a  jury,  the  bench,  or  the  people,  a  competent  witness  has  vvTritten,  Ohio  has 
among  her  living  orators  not  one  more  versatile,  effective,  or  popular. 

In  1S33,  Mr.  Galloway  became  a  member,  in  full  communion,  of  the  Presbyte 
rian  Church  of  Hillsboro,  O.,  on  profession  of  his  faith  in  Christ.  In  1859  he 
was  elected  an  elder  of  the  Westminster  Church  of  Columbus,  O.  He  has  been 
three  times  a  Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly:  in  i860  at  Rochester,  N. 
Y.  ;  in  1S64  at  St.  Louis,  and  in  1865  at  Cincinnati.  He  has  been  a  Director 
of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  at  Allegheny,  Pa.,  and  of  the  Boards  of 
Domestic  Missions  and  Publication. 

HON.    HOVEY   K.  CLARKE,  Detroit,  Mich. 

HovEY  K.  Clarke,  son  of  Hovey  and  Sarah  (Kilbum)  Clarke,  was  bom  in 
Sterling,  Mass.,  July  1 1,  1812.  His  school  days  were  spent  mainly  in  the  academies 
at  Utica  and  Clinton,  New  York,  and  in  "  Phillips,"  at  Andover,  Mass.,  from 
1821  to  1S2S.  From  1816  to  1831  his  home  was  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  then  five  years 
in  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1836  he  came  to  Michigan,  in  which  State  he  has 
since  resided  ;  in  Detroit  since  1852.  He  was  first  elected  an  elder  in  1837,  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Allegan,  Mich.  Since  that  time  he  has  held  the  office  in 
the  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church  m  Allegan,  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Mar- 
shall, in  the  Second  (now  Fort  Street)  Church  and  the  "  Westminster"  Church  in 
Detroit.  He  has  been  a  Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
in  1857;  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in   i860;  in  Philadelphia  in  1861  ;  in  Columbus, 


EXPLANATORY    AND     STATISTICAL.  725 

Ohio,  in  1862  ;  in  Peoria,  111.,  in  1863  ;  in  St.  Louis  in  1S66 ;  and  in  Cincinnati  in 

1867.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  in  i860, 
1S64,  and  1868,  and  of  the  Board  of  Publication  in  1867  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  in 

1868.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Theological  Seminary 
of  the  North-west  from  1865  to  1869.  In  1866  he  was  appointed  a  member  of 
the  Joint  Committee  on  the  Reunion  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

HON.  GEORGE  P.  STRONG,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

George  P.  Strong,  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Pierce  and  Laura  (Clark) 
Strong,  was  born  at  Woodbury,  Conn.,  December  17,  181 2,  but  resided  the  most 
of  his  life  previous  to  going  to  college  at  Vienna,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  where 
his  father  was  settled  in  the  ministry  for  many  years.  He  entered  Hamilton  Col- 
lege, at  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  in  1831,  but  left  at  the  commencement  of  his  Sophomore 
year,  and  studied  at  Canandaigua,  in  order  to  enter  the  Senior  Class  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  the  fall  of  1833.  Ill-health  prevented  this  purpose  from  execution,  and  he 
never  returned  to  College. 

In  1835  he  went  South,  and  spent  eighteen  months  in  teaching  in  the 
State  of  Kentucky.  In  the  summer  of  1836  he  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  Elkton,  Todd  County,  Ky.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  removed 
to  Clinton,  Hinds  County,  Miss.,  and  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
that  place.  In  1S39  he  was  elected  and  ordained  elder  of  the  Clinton  Church.  In 
the  fall  of  1840  he  removed  to  Port  Gibson,  Miss.,  and  connected  himself  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  place,  and  served  it  in  the  office  of  the  eldership 
from  1840  or  1841,  until  his  removal  to  St.  Louis  in  1852.  In  St.  Louis  he  united 
with  the  Westminster  Church.  In  1853  a  union  was  effected  between  the  West- 
minster Church  (Old  School)  and  the  Pine  Street  Church  (New  School).  Mr. 
Strong  was  on  the  committee  to  effect  that  union,  and  drew  the  "  Plan  of  Union." 
The  first  condition  was,  that  the  united  church  should  be  received  under  the  care  of 
the  (Old  School)  Presbytery  of  St.  Louis.  This  was  done,  and  the  united  church 
retained  the  name  of  "The  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  Church."  In  1S53  or  1854, 
he  was  elected  an  elder  in  that  church,  which  office  he  still  continues  to  hold.  The 
church  prospered  in  great  harmony  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  S.  B. 
McPheeters,  until  the  war  broke  out  in  1861.  Then  the  pastor  and  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  church,  with  all  the  elders,  excepting  Mr.  Strong,  sympathized  with  the 
South :  this  occasioned  a  long  and  bitter  controversy,  which  resulted  in  the  with- 
drawal of  nearly  all  the  members  who  sympathized  with  the  Government.  When 
the  war  was  over,  the  session  of  the  church  called  to  the  pastorate  a  chaplain  in 
the  Southern  army,  who  was  installed.  Mr.  Strong  appealed  from  this  action  to 
the  Presbytery,  and  it  was  set  aside ;  and  Mr.  Strong  and  the  members  adhering  to 
the  General  Assembly  were  recognized  as  "  the  Pine  Street  Church  "  and  Session. 
The  majority  repudiated  the  action  of  the  Presbytery,  and  united  themselves  to 
the  party  known  in  Missouri  as  the  "  Declaration  and  Testimony  "  party. 


726  PKESBYTEEIAN    CHURCH. 

He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1840  in  Mississippi,  and  since  1843  ^^  ^^s  pur- 
sued his  profession  as  a  lawyer  without  interruption. 

The  only  civil  office  Mr.  Strong  has  held  is  that  of  member  of  the  Constitution- 
al Convention  which  framed  the  present  Constitution  of  the  State  of  Missouri. 
In  that  Convention  he  was  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Emancipation,  and 
brought  in  the  Ordinance  of  Emancipation  which  passed  January  litli,  1S65,  mak- 
ing Missouri  a  free  State.  He  was  also  Chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee  on 
Education,  and  drew  the  article  on  Education  as  it  now  exists  in  the  Constitution. 
During  the  war  for  a  time  he  held  the  commission  of  major,  and  for  a  year  was 
on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Edwards  in  the  service  of  the  State  of  Missouri. 

During  the  late  war  Mr.  Strong  was  very  active  in  sustaining  the  Government 
of  the  country.  He  has  repeatedly  declined  nominations  for  office,  as  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Missouri,  and  Governor  of  the  State. 

PRESIDENT  ORMOND   BEATTY,  LL.D.,  Danville,  Ky. 

Ormond  Beatty,  son  of  Adam  and  Sarah  Beatty,  was  bom  in  Mason  Coun- 
ty, Ky.,  August  13,  181 5. 

His  early  education  was  received  chiefly  in  the  town  of  Washington,  near  which 
his  father  resided.  In  1832  he  became  a  student  in  Centre  College  at  Danville, 
Ky.,  under  the  presidency  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  C.  Young,  and  graduated  in 
September,  1835.  In  1835  he  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Danville. 
In  1844  he  was  elected  an  elder  of  the  First  Church  of  Danville,  and  served  in 
the  office  until  1852,  when  he  became  an  elder  in  the  Second  Church,  which  was 
organized  in  that  year.  He  was  a  Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  in  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  in  1855,  in  St.  Louis  in  1S66,  and  in  Cincinnati  in  1867. 

In  1836  he  was  elected  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  Danville  College,  Ky.,  in 
which  position  he  continued  until  1870.  In  September,  1870,  he  was  elected 
President  of  the  college. 

HON.  JOSEPH  ALLISON,  LL.D.,  West  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
HON.  HENRY  W.  WILLIAMS,  LL.D.,  Pittsburg,  Pa. 
Henry  Warren  Williams,  the  son  of  Warren  and  Elizabeth  Stanton  (Gal- 
lup) Williams,  was  born  in  Groton  (now  Ledyard),  New  London  County,  Conn., 
January  20,  1S16.  Both  of  his  parents  were  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  in  which  his  father  was  Deacon  for  a  number  of  years  before  his  death  in 
1843.  He  was  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  and  a  Christian  of  devoted  piety. 
His  mother  is  still  living,  a  woman  of  great  energy,  sound  sense,  and  correct 
Christian  life.  He  attended  common  school  till  he  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age. 
In  the  fall  of  183 1,  he  commenced  preparatory  studies  for  a  collegiate  course  at 
Bacon  Academy,  Colchester,  Conn.,  where  he  remained  two  terms.  In  the  spring 
of  1S32  he  went  to  Plainfield  Academy  (Plainfield,  Conn.),  where  he  remained  till 
the  fall  of  1833,  when  he  entered  Amherst  College  (Amherst,  Mass.),  from  whijcb 


EXPLANATORY    AND     STATISTICAL.  727 

he  graduated  in  1S37.  In  college  he  took  and  maintained  throughout  his  entire 
course  a  very  high  rank  as  a  speaker,  a  writer,  a  debater,  a  logician,  and  meta- 
physician, while  because  of  his  many  virtues  he  was  one  of  the  most  popular  of 
his  class.  After  graduating  he  taught  for  one  year  at  Southwick,  Mass.  In 
March,  1S39,  he  entered  the  office  of  Walter  II.  Lowrie,  Esq.  (now  ex-Chief  Jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania),  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  studied  law  un- 
der his  direction  until  May,  1S41,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  AUeglieny 
County,  Pa.  He  practised  his  profession  with  increasing  success,  as  a  partner 
of  his  preceptor,  until  Mr.  Lowrie  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  County,  and  then  with  William  M.  Shinn  until  October,  185 1,  when  he  was 
elected  Associate  Judge  of  the  District  Court  for  the  county  of  Allegheny,  for  tea 
years  from  the  first  Monday  of  December,  1851.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term. 
Judge  Williams  was  re-elected  for  a  second  term  of  ten  years.  He  remained  on 
the  bench  of  the  District  Court  till  October,  1S68,  when  he  was.  appointed  by 
Gov.  Geary  a  Judge  of  Supreme  Court,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by 
the  resignation  of  the  Hon.  Wm.  Strong.  He  took  his  seat  on  the  26th  day  of 
October,  1S68.  In  October  of  the  following  year  (1869)  he  was  elected  Judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court  for  the  term  of  fifteen  years  from  the  first  Monday  of  the  fol- 
lowing December.  This  of&ce  he  now  holds.  Judge  Williams  united  with  tlie 
Third  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pittsburg  (Rev.  D.  H.  Riddle,  D.D.,  pastor),  March 
I,  1840.  He  was  elected  elder  May  12,  1858,  and  ordained  July  18,  185S;  at 
which  time  Rev.  H.  Kendall,  D.  D.,  was  installed  pastor,  in  place  of  Dr.  Riddle, 
resigned.  He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  in 
1859;  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  1S65,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  1866;  at  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
1867.  He  was  elected  Corporate  Member  of  the  American  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners for  Foreign  Missions  at  the  annual  meeting  in  Pittsburg  in  1869.  The 
honorary  degree  of  LL.D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Amherst  College  in  1866. 


HON.  TRUMAN  P.  HANDY,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Truman  P.  Handy,  son  of  William  and  Eunice  Handy,  was  born  in  Paris, 
Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  January  17,  1807. 

He  united  with  the  Congregational  Church  of  Paris  Hill,  N.  Y.,  on  profession 
of  his  faith  in  Christ,  at  the  age  of  13  years. 

He  was  elected  elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Cleveland,  Oliio,  in 
1833;  and  in  June,  1S44,  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Cleveland  ;  this 
latter  he  now  serves  in  this  ofSce. 

He  was  a  Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  in  1859, 
at  St.  Louis,  1 866,  and  at  Rochester  in  1867.  He  was  appointed  on  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  Reunion  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  1866,  and  attended  all  its 
meetings.  • 

He  is  a  Trustee  of  the  College  of  the  Western  Reserve,  Hudson,  Ohio.  For 
thirty-five  years  he  has  served  as  a  Sabbath-school  Superintendent  in  Cleveland. 


728  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

In  his  business  relations  he  has  been  cashier  and  president  of  bankmg  institutions 
in  Cleveland  for  thirty-eight  years. 

MR.  ROBERT  W.  STEELE,  Dayton,  Ohio. 

Robert  W.  Steele  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  July  3,  1819.  He  graduated 
at  Miami  University,  Oxford,  Ohio,  under  the  Presidency  of  the  Rev.  George  Jun- 
kin,  D.D.  He  united  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dayton  in  1841,  and 
removed  his  membership  to  the  Third  Street  Presbyterian  Church  in  1842.  He 
was  ordained  an  elder  in  the  Tiiird  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  January  22,  1S54, 
and  has  served  that  church  in  this  office  until  the  present  time. 

He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Miami  University,  and  a  di- 
rector in  Lane  Theological  Seminary,  at  Walnut  Hills,  Ohio.  For  twenty-five 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Dayton,  Ohio.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture  of  Ohio,  and  one  of  the  five  citizens  of  Ohio 
appointed  by  the  Governor  to  constitute  '*  The  Board  of  State  Charities,"  whose 
duty  it  is  "  to  investigate  the  whole  system  of  the  public  charitable  and  correctional 
institutions  of  the  State,  and  recommend  such  changes  and  additional  provisions 
as  they  may  deem  necessary  for  their  economical  and  efficient  administration." 

HON.  EDWARD   A.  LAMBERT,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Edward  Augustus  Lambert,  son  of  William  A.  and  Jane  Lambert,  was  bom 
m  the  city  of  New  York,  June  10,  1813.  He  united  with  the  Central  Presbyterian 
Church  of  New  York,  on  profession  of  his  faith  m  Christ,  in  1S30. 

He  was  one  of  thirty-two  young  persons  who  organized  the  Third  Free  Presby- 
terian Church  of  New  York,  in  December,  1831,  the  Rev.  Dirck  C.  Lansing,  D.D., 
pastor.  This  church  was  afterwards  known  as  the  Houston  Street  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  the  Rev.  Samuel  D.  Burchard,  D.D.,  became  pastor.  At  a  subse- 
quent time  it  was  removed  to  Thirteenth  street,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh  ave- 
nues, where  it  is  at  present  located,  and  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  flourishing 
Presbyterian  churches  in  the  city  of  New  York.  In  1846  Mr.  Lambert  removed  to 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  and  connected  himself  with  the  South  Presbyterian  Church, 
then  newly  organized  (the  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Spear  then  and  still  pastor).  In  1857 
he  with  others  organized  the  Park  Presbyterian  Church,  Brooklyn,  how  known  as 
the  Lafayette  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church,  the  Rev.  Theodore  L.  Cuyler,  D.D., 
pastor.  He  was  ordained  an  elder  in  the  Houston  Street  Church  in  1837,  and  he 
held  the  office  in  the  South  Presbyterian  Church  and  Lafayette  Avenue  Church, 
Brooklyn.     In  this  latter  church  he  is  now  serving. 

In  1855  the  General  Assembly  appointed  him  a  member  of  "  the  Church  Exten- 
sion Committee."  In  1861  he  was  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  a  mem- 
ber of  '*  the  Committee  of  Home  Missions,"  and  of  this  Committee  he  has  been 
Treasurer  since  its  organization.  In  1866  he  was  appointed  by  the  General  As- 
sembly a  member  of  the  Committee  on  "  the  Reunion  of  the  Presbyterian  Church." 
Mr.  Lambert  has  had  several  very  important  and  responsible  positions  in  civil  life. 
In  1853  and  1854  he  was  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn.     He  was  one  of  the 


EXPLANATORY   AND     STATISTICAL.  729 

original  trustees  of  the  New  York  State  Inebriate  Asylum,  and  was  ajipointed  by 
the  Legislature  as  one  of  the  committee  to  select  a  location.  lie  was  a  Com 
missioner  to  the  General  Assemblies  of  1855,  1S62,  1S66,  1868,  and  iS7a 

HON,  JACOB  S.  FARRAND,  Detroit,  Mich. 

Jacob  Shaw  Parrand,  son  of  Bethuel  and  Marilla  (Shaw)  Farrand,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Mentz,  Cayuga  County,  New  York.  His  father  was  of 
Huguenot,  and  his  mother  of  Puritan  descent.  In  1S25  the  family  emigrated  to  the 
then  territory  of  Michigan.  When  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  went  to  Detroit,  then  a  place  of  two  thousand  inhabitants,  and  there  he  has 
since  remained.  In  1S32  he  made  a  public  profession  of  his  faith  in  Christ,  and 
united  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Detroit,  of  which  the  Rev.  George 
Duffield  was  so  long  the  pastor.  With  this  venerable  man  it  was  the  privilege  of 
Mr.  Farrand  to  be  on  terms  of  the  most  intimate  intercourse  for  the  period  of 
thirty  years.  In  1S56  he  was  ordained  to  the  office  of  ruling  elder  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Detroit,  in  which  position  he  still  remains.  He  was  a 
Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  of  1S63  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  of  1S69 
at  New  York  and  Pittsburg.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  Re- 
union appointed  by  the  Assemblies,  1866,  and  also  of  the  Committee  of  Confer- 
ence on  the  same  subject  appointed  by  the  Assemblies  of  1S69.  The  same  As- 
semblies placed  him  on  the  Joint  Committee  on  the  reorganization  of  the  Board  of 
Domestic  Missions.  In  1870  the  General  Assembly  elected  him  member  of  the 
Board  of  Dii-ectors  of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  North  West,  at  Chicago. 

From  the  time  of  its  appointment  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Synodical  Com- 
mittee of  Church  Erection,  and  he  is  now  on  the  Synodical  Committee  on  the 
Memorial  Fund. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Farrand  was  the  receiving  agent  in  Detroit  of  the  A.  B. 
C.  F.  M.  He  has  been  the  President  of  the  Detroit  City  Missionary  Society,  and 
he  is  now  President  of  the  Wayne  County  Bible  Society. 

He  has  always  been  actively  engaged  in  Sabbath-school  work. 

He  has  served  the  State,  as  well  as  the  Church. 

From  1841  to  1845  he  was  deputy  collector  of  customs  for  the  port  and  dis- 
trict of  Detroit,  then  extending  from  below  the  city  of  Detroit,  around  the  shores 
of  Lakes  Huron  and  Michigan,  including  the  city  of  Chicago.  On  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Metropolitan  Police  by  the  Legislature  of  Michigan  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  Commissioners,  and  was  elected  President  of  the  Board,  which  position 
he  still  holds.  For  eight  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of 
the  city  of  Detroit ;  for  four  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Common  Council 
of  Detroit  — one  year  its  presiding  officer ;  and  for  a  short  time  he  was  the  acting 
Mayor  of  the  city.  For  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Water  Com- 
missioners of  the  city  of  Detroit,  and  is  now  its  President.  He  is  President  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Detroit,  Vice-President  of  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance 


730  PEESBYTEEIAN    CHURCH. 

Company,  Treasurer  of  the  Detroit  Gas  Light  Company,  and  since  its  organization 
he  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Harper  Hospital. 

For  forty  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  drug  business. 


ILLUSTRATIONS,   DOCUMENTS,   ETC. 

1.   THE  ILLUSTMATIOFS  OF  THIS  VOLUME. 

Moderators  of  1837,  1869,  1870. 

THE  REV.  DAVID  ELLIOTT,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

MODERATOR  OF  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  OF  1S37,  BEING  THE  LAST  ASSEMBLY 
PREVIOUS   TO   THE   DIVISION. 

DAVID  ELLIOTT, 

Son  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Holliday)  Elliott,  was  born  February  6,  1787.  His 
parents  were  both  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  whose  ancestors  for  several  gen- 
erations, as  far  as  known,  belonged  to  the  large  Presbyterian  family.  His  father, 
Thomas  Elliott,  was  bom  in  Enniskillen,  Fermanagh  County,  Ireland,  but  came 
to  this  country  with  his  parents  when  a  small  boy,  about  the  year  1730.  He  was 
brought  up  in  the  vicinity  of  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  where  his  father  purchased  a 
farm,  on  which  he  resided.  His  ancestors  participated  in  the  conflicts  between 
the  Protestants  under  William  of  Orange  and  the  Roman  Catholics  under  James 
of  England,  in  which  the  Enniskillen  Dragoons  so  greatly  distinguished  themselves. 
Dr.  Elliott's  mother,  Jane  Holliday,  was  bom  in  the  County  Down,  Ih  the  North 
of  Ireland,  and  came  over  to  this  country  with  her  family  some  time  after  his  father. 
When  arrived  at  manhood,  his  father  purchased  and  resided  on  a  farm  some  twenty 
miles  north  of  Carlisle,  in  Sherman's  Valley,  now  Perry  County,  Pa.  There  he 
and  his  mother  became  acquainted  and  were  married.  He  was  their  youngest 
child,  and  was  bom  at  the  famUy  home,  February  6,  1787.  His  early  years  were 
spent  at  home  on  the  farm  until  about  his  fourteenth  year,  much  of  his  time  at 
such  schools  as  the  neighborhood  furnished.  About  that  age  he  commenced  his 
classical  studies  under  the  Rev.  John  Coulter,  pastor  of  a  church  in  Tuscarora  Val- 
ley, Mifflin  County,  Pa.  He  was  a  fine  classical  scholar.  With  him  he  continued 
about  eighteen  months,  when  he  spent  a  year  or  more  in  the  town  of  Mifflin,  under 
the  tuition  of  Andrew  K.  Russell,  afterwards  a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 


EXPLANATORY   AND     STATISTICAL.  731 

In  the  State  of  Delaware.  Berore  he  went  to  college  he  spent  a  year  —  from  April, 
1S05,  till  April,  1806  —  in  Washington,  Pa.,  as  an  assistant  teacher  in  the  academy 
there,  in  connection  with  the  Rev.  Matthew  Brown,  afterwards  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Matthew  Brown,  the  distinguished  and  well-known  President  of  Washington,  sub- 
sequently of  Jefferson.  College. 

Having  returned  home  in  April,  1S06,  he  entered  Dickinson  College  soon  after, 
and  graduated  in  September,  180S,  having,  before  entering  college,  attended  to 
the  studies  of  the  Freshman  and  Sophomore  classes,  and  prepared  to  enter  the  Junior 
class,  when  he  entered  college.  Soon  after  leaving  college  he  commenced  the 
study  of  theology  under  the  direction  of  his  pastor,  the  Rev.  John  Linn,  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  and  father  of  the  late  James  Linn,  D.D.,  of  Bcllcfonte,  Pa. 
The  latter  part  of  his  course  of  three  years  he  read  under  the  direction  of  the 
Rev.  Joshua  Williams,  D.D.,  of  the  same  Presbytery.  There  were  then  no  Theo- 
logical Seminaries,  but  the  Presbytery  required  three  full  years  of  study  before 
license,  and  the  examinations  in  Presbytery  were  much  more  searching  and  rigorous 
than  at  present. 

Dr.  Elliott  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  in  the  last  week  of  Sep- 
tember, 181 1,  and  spent  the  following  winter  under  the  direction  of  the  Presbytery 
in  itinerant  labors  within  its  bounds,  in  which  there  was  a  vast  territory  entirely 
destitute  of  the  stated  ministrations  of  the  gospel.  Having  preached  a  few  times 
in  the  church  of  Upper  West  Conococheague,  now  Mercersburg,  a  call  was  made  out 
for  him  and  presented  at  the  spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  April,  1812,  which 
he  accepted,  and  entered  upon  his  labors,  although  his  ordination  did  not  take 
place  till  the  fall  meeting,  October  7th,  the  Presbytery  meeting  only  twice  in 
the  year.  At  his  ordination,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jno.  McKnight,  previously  of  Nevr 
York,  preached  and  presided,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  McConaughy,  afterwards  Presi- 
dent of  Washington  College,  Pa. ,  gave  the  charges  to  both  pastor  and  people. 
Shortly  after  his  acceptance  of  the  call  to  this  church.  May  14,  1S12,  he  was 
married  to  his  late  wife.  Miss  Ann  West. 

In  accepting  the  pastorate  of  this  church,  he  became  the  immediate  successor  of 
the  Rev.  John  King,  D.D.,  the  fourth  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  A.D.  1792,  and  a  very  able  man.  Here  he  labored  for 
nearly  eighteen  years.  In  the  fall  of  1829  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Washington,  Pa.,  and  removed  there  in  the  month 
of  November  of  that  year.  There  he  became  the  successor  of  the  Rev. 
Obadiah  Jennings,  D.D.,  a  man  well  known  throughout  the  Church,  who  had 
abandoned  a  lucrative  practice  at  the  bar  to  become  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ.  He  also  was  a  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly,  A.D.  1822.  When 
Dr.  Elliott  went  to  Washington,  the  college  was  suspended,  and  the  trustees, 
being  anxious  to  resuscitate  it,  offered  him  the  presidency,  which  he  declined ;  but 
the  Board  not  being  able  to  find  a  man  to  undertake  it,  he  agreed  to  act  as  presi- 
dent until  a  suitable  person  could  be  procured.  That  position  he  occupied  for  n 
year  and  a  half,  assisted  by  two  young  men,  Messrs.  Alrich  and  Smitli,  just  com- 
mencing their  professional  career.     Providence  smiled  upon  their  labors,  and  at 


732  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

the  end  of  eighteen  months  Dr.  Elliott  withdrew,  and  passed  the  college,  with  120 
students,  into  the  hands  of  Dr.  McConaughy,  a  man  of  talents  and  ripe  scholar- 
ship,  and  whose  presidency  was  eminently  successful. 

During  his  pastorate  at  Washington,  he  was  elected  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  1835  to  the  professorship  of  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Church  Government 
in  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  at  Allegheny.  This,  for  various  reasons,  he 
declined ;  but  at  the  special  and  urgent  solicitation  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  he 
agreed  to  hold  the  appointment  in  his  hand  for  further  consideration  and  consulta- 
tion by  the  friends  of  the  Seminary.  While  in  this  position,  Prof.  Halsey  proposed 
that  if  he.  Dr.  Elliott,  would  come  into  the  Seminary,  he  would  relinquish  the  chair 
of  Theology  and  take  that  which  Dr.  Elliott  had  declined,  but  which  he  preferred. 
In  this  the  Board  of  Directors  joined  him,  and  although  Dr.  Elliott  long  hesitated  as 
to  the  path  of  duty,  he  finally  agreed  to  accept.  This  arrangement  having  been  con- 
firmed by  the  next  General  Assembly,  he  resigned  his  charge  at  Washington,  and 
entered  upon  his  duties  in  the  Seminary  on  the  loth  of  June,  1836,'  the  number 
of  students  at  that  time  being  about  twenty-five.  The  circumstances  of  the  Sem- 
inary then,  and  for  many  years  afterwards,  were  very  discouraging.  One  professor 
after  another  was  elected,  but  before  long  resigned,  and  left  the  faculty.  Like 
actors  in  a  drama,  they  appeared  on  the  stage,  but.  soon  departed — and  Dr. 
Elliott  has  been  heard  to  say  that  he  was  often  tempted  to  go  also.  But  he  felt 
that  the  Institution  was  of  too  great  value  to  the  Church  to  be  thus  abandoned, 
although  at  various  times  scarcely  a  glimmering  of  light  could  be  seen  through  the 
darkness  by  which  it  was  enshrouded.  He  encouraged  the  hope,  however,  that 
the  Head  of  the  Church  would  in  due  time  appear  for  its  deliverance  and  eleva- 
tion to  a  larger  sphere  of  usefulness.  This  hope  has  been  verified,  and  the  Sem- 
inary has  its  thousand  or  more  of  alumni  abroad  in  the  Master's  vineyard,  doing 
their  Master's  work.      To  Him  be  the  praise  ! 

Dr.  Elliott  received  the  degree  of  D.D.  from  Jefferson  College  in  the  year 
1835,  and  that  of  LL.D.  from  Washington  College  in  1847. 

He  has  been  a  warm  friend  of  the  Reunion,  and  lives  to  congratulate  the  Church 
at  the  attainment  of  it,  and  still  brings  forth  fruit  in  old  age  while  training  young 
men  for  the  ministry  of  the  gospel. 

THE  REV.  MELANCTHON  W.  JACOBUS,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  (Old  School),  1869,  being  one  of  the  Assem- 
blies that  prepared  and  sent  down  to  the  Presbyteries  the  Basis  of  Reunion,  which 
was  finally  adopted,  and  the  last  Assembly  known  as  Old  School. 

[From  the  Appendix  Volume  of  The  Princeton  Revieit<.'\ 

Melancthon  Williams  Jacobus  was  bom  September  19,  i8i6,  at  Newark, 
N.  J.  He  entered  Princeton  College  (Sophomore  class)  in  his  fifteenth  year,  and 
was  graduated  in  his  eighteenth  year  with  the  first  honors  of  the  College.     After  an 


EXPLANATORY    AND     STATISTICAL.  733 

interval  of  a  year  at  home,  he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton  in 
1835,  and  having  completed  his  course,  he  was  invited  to  remain  as  an  assistant 
to  Prof.  J.  Addison  Alexander,  in  the  Hebrew  department.  He  acted  in  this 
capacity  during  an  academic  year.  When  the  year  was  drawing  to  a  close,  he  re- 
ceived a  unanimous  and  urgent  call  from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Brook- 
lyn to  become  its  pastor.  The  church  was  involved  in  the  struggle  which  ensued 
upon  the  rupture  in  1838  in  the  General  Assembly,  and  it  fell  to  his  charge  to 
build  it  up  amidst  very  peculiar  difficulties.  He  was  installed  pastor  in  tlie  fall 
of  1839.  In  January,  1840,  he  was  married  to  the  eldest  daughter  of  Samuel 
Hayes,  M.D.,  of  Newark,  N.  J.  He  labored  successfully  in  Brooklyn  during 
eleven  years,  in  which  time  the  church  was  well  established  as  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  churches  of  the  Presbytery.  A  beautiful  and  expensive  edifice  was 
erected  on  Fulton  street,  which  was  afterwards  vacated  for  a  more  quiet  and  cen- 
tral part  of  the  city ;  and  a  superior  sanctuary  of  stone  was  built  on  the  corner  of 
Clinton  and  Remsen  streets,  which  is  still  occupied  by  the  congregation  of  that 
church. 

In  the  fall  of  1850  the  health  of  the  pastor  broke  down  under  the  severe  duties 
of  the  charge,  and  the  church  made  liberal  provision  for  releasing  him,  and  sup- 
plying his  pulpit,  for  a  year's  absence  in  foreign  travel.  He  went  witli  his  wife 
through  Europe,  into  Egypt  and  Palestine  and  Syria,  to  Damascus,  returning  by 
Constantinople  and  Greece,  and  arrived  at  home  in  September,  1S51,  after  a  year's 
journeying  among  classic  and  Bible  lands,  to  the  great  advantage  of  his  health. 
During  his  absence,  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  at  their 
session  in  May,  185 1,  elected  him  as  "  Professor  of  Oriental  and  Biblical  Litera- 
ture "  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Allegheny,  Pa.  He  was  now  thirty-six 
years  of  age.  Finding  his  health  inadequate  for  the  pulpit  and  pastoral  work,  and 
feeling  himself  called  of  God  to  enter  upon  the  new  field,  in  an  interior  climate, 
with  furniture  such  as  he  was  known  to  possess  for  the  professorship,  he  entered 
upon  his  duties  in  Allegheny  in  the  opening  of  the  year  1852.  The  Presbytery  of 
New  York,  when  called  upon  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation,  made  most  compli- 
mentary notice  of  his  laborious  and  successful  work  in  Brooklyn,  and  few  will  for- 
get the  touching  speech  of  the  venerable  Dr.  Spring  in  making  the  motion.  He 
made  a  second  tour  of  Europe  in  i  S66. 

Already  in  Brooklyn  in  1848,  during  the  toil  of  his  pastorate,  he  had  prepared 
and  published  his  first  volume  of  "Notes  on  the  New  Testament,"  entitled 
*'  Matthew,  with  the  Harmony."  This  volume  was  received  with  so  much  public 
favor,  and  with  the  Catechetical  Question  Book  accompanying,  supplied  so  impor- 
tant a  need,  that,  in  the  Professor's  chair,  with  larger  and  richer  materials  from 
Bible  lands,  where  he  had  made  personal  observation  with  advantage,  he  issued 
a  second  volume,  "  Mark  and  Luke,"  in  May,  1853. 

In  1856  he  published  a  very  valuable  Commentary  on  John  ;  and  this  was  fol- 
lowed in  1859  with  a  still  more  elaborate  Commentary  on  the  Acts  of  the  Apos- 
tles. In  1862  the  Notes  on  the  Gospels  were  republished  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland, 
by  Messrs.  Oliphant  &  Son.     Their  very  extensive  circulation  in  this  country,  and 


734  PRESBYTERIAIS'    CHURCH. 

the  great  favor  with  which  they  were  received  in  the  churches,  warranted  the 
British  publishers  in  this  undertaking. 

In  1864-5,  the  two  volumes  on  Genesis  were  issued  from  the  press  of  the  Ameri- 
can publishers,  the  Messrs.  Carter  of  New  York.  They  evince  great  labor  and  re- 
search, and  m  a  brief  space  furnish  a  mass  of  material.  And  his  special  fitness  for 
this  latest  work,  where  so  many  great  questions  were  to  be  grappled,  at  the  thres- 
hold of  Divine  Revelation,  was  already  indicated  by  his  review  of  "Bush  on  Gen- 
esis "  in  the  Priticeton  Review  in  1 839. 

In  1852  the  degree  of  D.D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Jefferson  College,  and 
he  was  honored  with  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  by  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  i  S67. 
He  had  the  happy  distinction  of  being  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1S69, 
the  last  Assembly  of  the  Old  School  Church  introducing  the  Reunion.  He  pre- 
sided in  the  great  Assembly  at  New  York,  and  at  the  adjourned  Assembly  at  Pitts- 
burg, with  marked  dignity,  suavity,  and  success,  and  was  credited  with  having 
made  most  happy  and  eloquent  responses  to  the  several  delegations  from  other 
bodies,  and  from  the  New  School  Assembly ;  and  he  wll  be  remembered  not  only 
as  presiding  with  his  brother  Moderator  at  the  Reunion  yiibilee  in  Pittsburg,  but 
as  most  happily  introducing  the  nuptial  formula,  and  appealing  to  the  venerable 
Dr.  Elliott  (Moderator  at  the  disruption)  if  he  knew  of  any  reason,  just  and  suffi- 
cient, why  the  parties  might  not  lawfully  be  united. 

He  is  the  author  of  "  Letters  to  Governor  Bigler  (of  Pennsylvania)  on  the  Com- 
mon School  System,"  in  controversy  with  Bishop  O'Connor  of  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic Diocese  of  Pittsburg  ;  also  of  a  tract  on  **  Universal  Salvation,"  published  by 
the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication  in  Philadelphia;  also  of  a  public  debate  with 
Bishop  O'Connor  on  the  relation  of  the  Romish  Church  to  Free  Institutions,  and 
of  a  controversy  with  "The  Pittsburg  Catholic''''  (the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Keogh)  on 
"  Indulgences,"  published  in  the  Pittsburg  Despatch. 

In  February,  1858,  Dr.  Jacobus  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Central  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Pittsburg  (formerly  the  Fifth  Presbyterian  Church,  which  had 
been  dissolved),  and,  beginning  with  a  membership  of  nineteen  persons,  he  has 
gathered  around  him,  during  ten  years,  a  flourishing  and  well-established  church, 
which  he  still  continues  to  serve,  in  addition  to  the  duties  of  his  professorship. 

The  following  articles  are  from  his  pen : 

1839.  Bush  on  Genesis. 

1845.  Concordances. 

THE  REV.  PHILEMON  H.  FOWLER,  D.D., 

Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  (New  School),  i86g,  being  one  of  the  Assem- 
blies that  prepared  and  sent  do\vn  to  the  Presbyteries  the  Basis  of  Reunion 
which  was  fmally  adopted,  and  the  last  Assembly  known  as  New  School.  [See 
sketches  of  the  members  of  the  Reunion  Committee,  page  718.] 


EXPLANATOEY   AND    STATISTICAL.  735 


THE  REV.  J.  TRUMBULL  BACKUS,  D.D., 

Moderator  of  the  First  Reunited  General  Assembly.     [See  sketches  of  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Reunion  Committee,  page  708.] 


CHAIRMEN    OF    THE   REUNION   COMMITTEE    OF    1866. 

The  steel  plate  by  Ritchie,  on  which  are  seen  the  portraits  of  Drs.  Krebs, 
Brainerd,  and  Beatty,  would  have  contained  also  the  portrait  of  Dr.  Adams,  but 
for  the  fact  that  his  picture  appears  in  the  group  of  the  Joint  Committee  of 
Conference  of  i  869,  in  which  he  labored  so  earnestly  and  successfully,  and  of  which 
he  was  the  chairman.  At  the  request  of  numerous  brethren  of  both  of  the  late 
branches  of  the  Church,  the  place  thus  left  vacant  is  filled  by  the  portrait  of  the 
much-beloved  and  lamented  Dr.  Gurley,  whose  patient  efforts  for  Reunion  all  ac- 
knowledge. Dr.  Krebs  was  the  Chainnan  of  the  Reunion  Committee,  Old  School, 
of  1866.  Dr.  Brainerd  was  the  Chairman  of  the  Reunion  Committee,  New 
School,  of  1866.  Dr.  Beatty  succeeded  Dr.  Krebs,  and  Dr.  William  Adams  suc- 
ceeded Dr.  Brainerd.  When  the  Committee  of  each  branch  combined  with  th& 
other,  and  both  became  one  Joint  Committee,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beatty  was  elected  as 
its  Chairman,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hatfield  was  chosen  Secretary. 

THE  REV.  JOHN  M.  KREBS,   D.D. 
[See  Biographical  Sketches,  page  326.] 

THE  REV.  THOMAS  BRAINERD,  D.D. 
[See  Biographical  Sketches,  page  387.] 

THE    REV.  PHINEAS  D.  GURLEY,  D.D. 

[See  Biographical  Sketches,  page  336.] 

THE  REV.  CHARLES  C.  BEATTY,  D.D. 
[See  Sketches  of  the  Reunion  Committee  of  1866,  page  707.] 

CONFERENCE  COMMITTEE  OF  1S69. 

The  members  of  the  Joint  Committee  of  Conference  of  1S69,  appointed  by 
the  General  Assemblies  meeting  in  the  Brick  CImrch  and  the  Church  of  the  Cov- 
enant, New  York,  are  represented  in  this  volume  by  their  portraits  in  groups  of 
five  each.     A  list  of  their  names  may  be  found  on  page  481. 


736  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


VIEWS  OF   CHURCHES,  ETC. 


THE   CERTIFICATE   OF   REUNION. 

This  certificate  was  drawn  up  by  Henry  Day,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  whose  ser- 
vices in  the  judicatories  of  the  Church  and  m  the  Committee  of  Conference  of 
1S69,  have  greatly  promoted  the  Reunion.  The  document  appears  in  the  hand- 
writing of  the  Rev.  Dr.  McGiLL,  Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly,  Old 
School,  from  1862  to  its  consolidation  with  the  other  branch.  The  signatures  are 
those  of  the  officers  of  the  two  Assemblies  of  1869. 

P.  H.  Fowler,  Moderator,  N.  S.  M.  W.  Jacobus,  Moderator,  O.  S. 

Edwin    F.    Hatfield,   Stated    Clerk,     Alex.  T.   McGill,   Stated   Clerk, 

N.  S.  O.  S. 

J.  Glentworth   Butler,  Permanent    W.   E.  Sciienck,  Permanent  Clerk, 

Clerk,  N.  S.  0.  S. 

William  E.  Moore,  Temporary  Clerk,     R.   K.  Rodgers,    Temporary  Clerk, 

M.S.  O.S. 

Geo.  a.  Howard,  Temporary  Clerk,  N.  S. 


OLD   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

This  picture  is  a  reproduction  of  the  appearance  of  Princeton  College  as  it 
stood  previous  to  its  first  conflagration.  It  is  taken  from  the  fac-simile  of  a  "  plate 
in  the  new  American  Magazine  for  March,  1760,  published  at  Woodbridge,  in 
New  Jersey."  The  original  plate  has  beneath  the  picture  of  the  college  the 
words.  Aula  Nassovica.     Above,  upon  a  scroll,  is  seen  the  motto,  Dei   Sub 

NUMINE  ViGET. 

Princeton  College  is  dear  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  not  only  because  it  is 
closely  associated  with  its  history  in  this  country,  but  still  more  since  it  has  trained 
so  many  of  its  ministers.  Princeton  Theological  Seminary  owes  its  origin  to 
the  friends  and  patrons  of  Prbceton  College,  and  it  is  because  of  its  relations  to 
that  institution  and  to  the  work  of  educating  young  men  for  the  ministry  that  the 
view  of  it  in  its  earlier  days  is  presented. 

THE   memorial  VIGNETTE. 

This  magnificent  steel-plate  engraving  is  emblematic  of  the  Reunion.  In  tlie 
far  distance  beneath  the  beams  of  the  rising  sun  are  seen  the  head  waters  of  tl:o 
Presbyterian  river.  It  is  soon  separated  by  a  rock  of  division,  and  flows  for  a 
brief  time  in  two  streams.  Soon  rejoined  it  grows  wider  and  deeper,  until  another 
separation  occurs.  After  a  longer  interval  it  is  happily  reunited  where  the  glorious 
Lord  becomes  to  it  a  place  of  broad  rivers.  The  church  in  the  foreground  is  the 
Third  Churcli,  Pittsburgh.  Joyful  bands  are  seen  marchmg  in  from  opposite  sides, 
hereafter  to  praise  God  together  as  one  harmonious  company  of  believers. 


EXPLANATORY   AND    STATISTICAL.  737 


AUBURN   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

This  picture  is  a  copy  of  an  excellent  stereoscopic  view  of  the  Seminary.  The 
number  of  its  graduates  who  are  now  pastors,  or  serving  the  church  in  other 
spheres  of  usefulness,  is  so  large  that  it  is  believed  many  will  be  pleased  to  see  a 
picture  of  Auburn  Seminary  in  t"his  volume. 

THIRD   CHURCH,    PITTSBURG,    PA. 

Here  the  General  Assembly,  New  School,  held  its  adjourned  meeting,  Novem- 
ber, 1869.  It  was  also  the  scene  of  the  grand  Reunion  Convention  and  Jubilee, 
after  the  declaration  of  the  adoption  of  the  Basis  of  Union,  Friday,  November 
I2th,  1869.     [See  page  592.] 

THE   REV.    ASHBEL  GREEN,   D.D. 

[See  Biographical  Sketches,  page  251.] 

THE  REV.    JAMES   RICHARDS,   D.D. 

[See  Biographical  Sketches,  page  371.] 

CHURCH   OF    THE   COVENANT,    NEW  YORK. 

Here  the  General  Assembly,  New  School,  of  1869  met.     [See  page  41  S.J 

FIRST  CHURCH,    PITTSBURG,    PA. 

Here  the  General  Assembly,  Old  School,  held  its  adjourned  meeting,  Novem- 
ber, 1869.     [See  page  553.] 

FIRST  CHURCH,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Here  the  First  Reunited  General  Assembly  convened,  May,  1870.  [See  page 
597.] 

BRICK  CHURCH,     NEW  YORK. 

In  this  church  the  General  Assembly,  Old  School,  of  1869  convened.  [See 
page  489.] 

2.    PAPER    PREPARED    AND    SIGNED    BY    MEMBERS    OF    THE 
GENERAL  ASSEMBLY,  OLD   SCHOOL,  AND   OTHERS,  New. 

ARK,     N.     J.,   1S64,    REFERRED     TO    ON    PAGE    422. 

Newark,   N.  J.,  May  27,  1S64- 
The  ministers  and  elders  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  represented  by  the  General 
Assembly  now  in  session  in  this  city,  feel  called  upon  to  express  their  confident 
47 


738  PRESBYTEKIAN    CnUP.CH. 


conviction  that  tl/e  time  has  come  when  measures  should  be  initiated  to  promote 
the  reunion  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  which  were  separated 
in  183S.  The  questions  over  which  they  differed  and  divided  have  mainly  passed 
away.  They  adopt  the  same  views  in  opposition  to  slavery.  There  is  now  no 
difference  of  opinion  in  regard  to  the  propriety  of  ecclesiastical  supervision  in  con- 
ducting educational  and  missionary  operations.  After  having  been  separated  for 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  they  adhere  alike  to  the  old  constitution. 
Their  ministers  and  ruling  elders  receive  and  adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith  in  the 
iise  of  some  prescribed  form.  Whatever  differences  in  doctrine  may  have  existed 
at  the  time  of  separation  there  is  reason  to  believe  have  mainly  passed  away.  It 
is  believed  that  the  great  majority  in  each  branch  "sincerely  receive  and  adopt  the 
Confession  of  Faith,  as  containing  the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Scriptures," 
and  approve  of  the  same  government  and  discipline.  On  this  basis  we  may  re- 
unite, mutually  regarding  and  treating  the  office-bearers  and  church  courts  of  each 
as  co-ordinate  elements  in  the  reconstruction. 

There  are  difficulties  in  the  way  of  repairing  the  breaches  of  Zion  which  must 
be  met  and  overcome  by  well-considered  methods  and  in  a  spirit  of  forbearance 
and  prudence.  Reunion  cannot  be  accomplished,  nor  is  it  to  be  desired,  without 
the  restoration  of  a  spirit  of  unity  and  fraternity.  We  believe  that  this  spirit 
exists,  and  is  constantly  increasing.  That  which  should  first  engage  the  attention 
of  the  friends  of  reunion  should  be  to  find  out  how  far  unity  of  sentiment  and  kind- 
ness of  feeling  prevail.  Where  these  exist,  they  should  be  cherished  and  strength- 
ened by  meeting  together  for  the  purpose  of  interchanging  views,  and  using  means 
for  final  union. 

By  way  of  ascertaining  the  views  of  the  ministers,  ruling  elders,  and  churches, 
and  of  calling  out,  organizing,  and  concentrating  pul^lic  sentiment,  so  as  to  open 
the  way  for  organic  union  as  speedily  as  possiljle,  we  propose  the  following 
measures : 

1.  We  recommend  to  Presbyteries  and  Synods  the  appointment  of  correspond- 
ing delegates  to  attend  the  Presbyteries  and  Sjmods  of  the  other  branch,  as  a  meas- 
ure adapted  to  develop  and  promote  the  spirit  of  union. 

2.  We  recommend  union  meetings  of  Presbyteries  and  Synods  of  the  two 
bodies  wherever  practicable,  such  as  were  held  by  the  Presbyteries  of  St.  Law- 
rence and  Ogdensburg,  as  furnishing  the  best  means  of  ascertaining  how  far  a  spirit 
of  kindness  and  confidence  has  been  restored,  and  to  what  extent  a  desire  for  re- 
union prevails. 

3.  We  recommend  that  Church  Sessions,  Presbyteries,  and  Synods  that  are  in 
favor  of  reunion  lake  action  on  the  subject,  and  express  and  publish  their  views. 

4.  We  recommend  conventions  of  the  friends  of  reunion  at  important  points, 
to  be  composed  of  ministers,  ruling  elders,  and  others,  to  consult  together  and  to 
declare  their  views. 

5.  We  respectfully  request  the  conductors  of  the  religious  journals  of  tlie  two 
Churches  to  open  their  columns  to  the  publication  of  communications  and  reports 

'f  church  courts  and  other  meetings  in  favor  of  reunion. 


EXPLANATORY    AND    STATISTICAL.  739 

6.  We  would  recommend  to  all  concerned  to  discourage  the  organization  of 
weak  churches  of  the  two  branches,  where  only  one  is  needed  and  can  be  sup- 
ported, and  especially  where  missionary  aid  is  required  to  sustain  them ;  and  we 
commend  the  union  of  such  churches  where  they  exist. 

7.  We  recommend,  in  the  language  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1863,  at 
Peoria,  "  That  the  ministers  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Church  cultivate  frater- 
nal intercourse  and  free  interchange  of  views,  and  in  all  suitable  ways  encourage 
and  aid  one  another  in  the  appropriate  work  of  the  ministry  ;  and  that  the  mem- 
bers of  the  one  or  the  other  branch  connect  themselves  with  existing  congregations 
of  either,  rather  than  give  their  influence  and  their  aid  to  bodies  whose  princi- 
ples and  form  of  government  are  foreign  to  their  own." 

8.  We  earnestly  recommend  to  all  to  seek,  by  prayer  to  the  Head  of  the 
Church,  that  the  Divine  blessing  may  rest  upon  all  efforts  for  the  accomplishment 
of  this  desirable  object. 

Ministers  —  Septimus  Tustin,  Washington,  D.  C;  J.  G.  Monfort,  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio  ;  T.  N.  Haskell,  First  Church,  East  Boston  ;  J.  A.  Steel,  Topeka, 
Kansas ;  W.  S.  Rogers,  Oxford,  Ohio ;  George  Hale,  Pennington,  N.  J. ;  Shel- 
don Jackson,  Rochester,  Minn.;  A.  McElwain,  Indiana,  Pa.;  N.  V.  Morrow, 
Van  Buren,  Ohio;  Arthur  Burtis,  Buffalo,  N.  V.;  L.  Merrill  Miller,  Ogdens- 
burg,  N.  Y.;  Alfred  Nevin,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  George  C.  Bush,  Hackettstown, 
N.  J.;  A.  O.  Rockwell,  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  E.  B.  Raffensperger,  Toledo,  Ohio; 
Samuel  Steel,  Hillsboro,  Ohio;  Alfred  Taylor,  Bristol,  Pa.;  W.  B.  Stewart, 
Pottstown,  Pa.;  C.  V.  McKaig,  Candor,  Pa.;  S.  McC.  Anderson,  Davenport, 
Iowa;  J.  H.  Pratt,  Athens,  Ohio;  John  Johnson,  Sybertsville,  Pa.;  Emilius 
Grand  Girard,  Ripley,  Ohio  ;  John  Robinson,  Ashland,  Ohio  ;  M.  L.  Wortman, 
Perrysville,  Pa. ;  A.  E.  Thomson,  Marysville,  Ohio  ;  Thomas  W.  Hynes,  Green- 
ville, 111.;  E.  W.  Wright,  Delphi,  Indiana;  C.  K.  Thomson,  Lebanon,  Indiana; 
Thomas  S.  Crowe,  Jeffersonville,  Indiana;  J.  M.  Stevenson,  New  York,  N.  Y.; 
B.  Johnson,  Oxford,  Wis.;  William  C.  Roberts,  Columbus,  Ohio;  J.  H.  Mc- 
Ilvaine,  Princeton,  N.  J.;  E.  Wilson,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  J.  W.  Heynes,  Hudson, 
Michigan  ;  M.  Barrett,  Newton,  N.  J.;  H.  L.  Craven,  St.  Charles,  Minn.;  J.  D. 
Paxlon,  Princeton,  Indiana;  D.  A.  Wilson,  Ironton,  Mo.;  S.  M.  Tcmpleton, 
Delavan,  Illinois ;  W.  R.  Marshall,  Baltimore,  Md. ;  Wilson  Phraner,  Sing  Sing, 
N.  Y. :  Joseph  F.  Fenton,  Washington,  Mo. ;  B.  S.  Everett,  Stroudsburg,  Pa. ; 
Alex.  McA.  Thorbum,  Malta,  N.  Y.;  Algernon  Sydney  MacMaster,  Poland, 
Ohio;  James  A.  McKee,  St.  Anthony,  Minn.;  James  Allison,  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  J. 
H.  Nixon,  Indianapolis,  Indiana;  Randolph  A.  De  Lancey,  Boston,  Mass.;  I.  N. 
Rendall,  Oneida  Valley,  N.  Y. ;  W.  T.  Adams,  El  Paso,  Illinois ;  Jos.  Piatt, 
'Waveland,  Indiana;  Edsall  Ferrier,  Florida,  N.  Y.;  S.  H.  Stevenson,  Granville, 
Illinois;  M.  A.  Hoge,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Joseph  W.  Hubbard,  Bridgeton,  N.  J.; 
E.  Slack,  Cincinnati,  Ohio  ;  N.  C.  Burt,  Cincinnati,  Ohio ;  I.  N.  Candee,  Gales- 
burg,  Illinois;  Bellville  Roberts,  Rochester,  N.  Y.;  S.  F.  Scovel,  Springfield, 
Ohio ;  John  Wray,  Rockdale  Mills,  Pa.  ;  James  Tally,  Ballstown  Spa,  N.  Y. : 


740  PRESBYTEKIAX   CHURCH. 

Edward  E.  Rankin,  Newark,  N.  J.;  Samuel  J.  Baird,  Woodbury,  N.  J.;  John  Y. 
Allison,  Areola,  Illinois ;  David  M.  James,  Budd's  Lake,  N.  Y. 

Ruling  Elders  —  Cyrus  Falconer,  Hamilton,  Ohio ;  Daniel  Kelley,  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.;  J.  M.  Chambers,  Burlingame,  Kansas;  W.  Shepard,  Rochester,  N.  Y.; 
E.  Crosby,  Bath,  N.  Y.;  Joseph  Gorrell,  Ossian,  Indiana;  Nehemiah  Dodge,  Mt. 
Joy,  Pa. ;  E.  J.  Beall,  New  Philadelphia,  Ohio  ;  J.  G.  Allen,  East  Springdale, 
Ohio  ;  Robert  W.  Pratt,  Salem,  Illinois ;  Stanley  Matthews,  Cincinnati,  Ohio ; 
Wm.  Taylor,  Findley,  Ohio ;  Noah  Evans,  Ilillsboro,  Ohio  ;  W.  Seawright, 
Frankfort,  Indiana ;  A.  J.  Hays,  Charleston,  Indiana ;  Martin  Ryerson,  Newton, 
N.  J. ;  T.  W.  Lockwood,  Detroit,  Michigan  ;  Charles  N.  Todd,  Indianapolis, 
Indiana  ;  John  Morehouse,  Dayton,  Ohio  ;  George  Hurlbut,  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y. ; 
.  W.  Helphenstein,  Washington,  Ind.;  J.  W.  Sutherland,  Kirkwood,  Mo.;  B.  S. 
Disbrow,  Trenton,  N.  J.;  James  Patton,  Reemersburg,  Pa.;  James  H.  Wilson, 
Prairie  City,  Illinois ;  James  Ayers,  Toulon,  Illinois ;  Thompson  Bell,  Zurick, 
Iowa ;  Matthias  Osbom,  New  Providence,  N.  J. ;  Eustus  H.  Smith,  St.  Louis, 
Mo.;  John  S.  Furst,  Cedar  Springs,  Pa.;  James  M.  Briggs,  Mt.  Gilead,  Ohio; 
Wm.  Byram,  Liberty,  Indiana;  J.  W.  Kennicutt,  Boston,  Mass.;  S.  Wittlesey, 
Toledo,  Ohio;  J.  H.  McGrew,  Piqua,  Ohio;  J.  H.  Whiting,  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Iowa ;  James  P.  Wallace,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Charles  E.  Lathrop,  Washington, 
D.C.;  A.  Eldridge,  North  White  Creek,  N.  Y.;  John  Ogden,  MUwaukee,  Wiscon- 
sin;  James  Rankin,  DunningsvLUe,  Pa.;  Charles  Fuller,  Scranton,  Pa.;  Jolm  D. 
Stokes,  Beaver,  Pa. 

3.   THE  PITTSBURG  CIRCULAR,  1868.     Referred  to  on  page  500. 

This  circular,  it  is  believed,  exerted  an  important  influence  in  behalf  of  the  Re- 
union, and  paved  the  way  for  its  general  acceptance  upon  the  basis  finally  adopted. 
It  was  first  suggested  and  proposed  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  Allison  in  the  Presby- 
TEEIAN  Banner.  It  took  definite  shape  and  execution  at  a  conference  of  Dr. 
Allison,  Drs.  Paxton,  A.  A.  Hodge,  and  Jacobus,  Dr.  D.  McKinney,  and  several 
others  consenting.  The  first  part  of  the  paper  was  written  by  the  Rev.  A.  A. 
Hodge,  D.D.,  and  the  remaining  portion  by  Dr.  Allison.  A  few  verbal  altera- 
tions were  afterwards  made  by  the  brethren  who  were  present  at  the  meeting  at 
which  it  was  signed. 

CIRCULAR   ON   REUNION. 

The  late  General  Assembly,  which  held  its  sessions  in  Alban)',  after  having  re- 
ferred the  Basis  reported  by  the  Joint  Committee  to  the  consideration  of  tlie  pres- 
byteries, declared,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  their  decided  preference  for  the  Common 
Standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  without  qualifying  clauses  of  any  kind,  as 
the  doctrinal  basis  of  the  reunited  Church.  When  this  was  reported  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  sitting  in  Harrisburg,  although  by  reason  of  the  previous  departure 
of  many  of  their  members  they  were  unable  formally  to  reconsider  their  former 


EXPLANATORY    AND    STATISTICAL.  741 

action,  yet  by  a  very  large  majority  of  their  remaining  mcmljers  they  also  ex- 
pressed  their  preference  for  the  change  proposed. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  the  undersigned  desire  to  make  known  their  very  decided 
a-reement  with  both  these  General  Assemblies  in  preferring  that  the  Westminster 
Confession  and  Catechisms,  without  qualification,  should  be  the  only  doctrinal 
basis  of  the  reunited  church  in  the  future. 

1.  Because  the  Common  Standards,  without  qualification,  have  been  from  the 
first  the  basis  of  both  churches,  and  their  adoption  consequently  will  involve  no 
sacrifice  of  principle  nor  of  consistency  upon  the  part  of  either. 

2.  Because  it  is  known  to  have  been  the  first  choice  of  our  New  School  breth- 
ren, and  is  now  preferred  by  an  overwhelming  majority  of  both  branches. 

3.  Because  its  adoption  in  preference  to  the  Doctrinal  Basis  reported  by  the 
Joint  Committee  will  conciliate  the  cheerful  acquiescence  of  very  many  who  acted 
witli  the  minority  in  the  late  General  Assembly. 

4.  Because  it  has  already  been  approved  by  the  New  School,  Old  School, 
United,  and  Reformed  Presbyterians  in  the  Philadelphia  Convention,  and  its 
adoption  will  therefore  greatly  facilitate  the  ultimate  reunion  of  all  branches  of 
the  hitherto  divided  Presbyterian  family  in  the  United  Stales. 

5.  Because  it  will  avoid  all  ground  of  litigation  with  respect  to  church  property 
of  every  kind. 

6.  And,  finally,  because  the  adoption  of  the  common  Confession  and  Catechism, 
without  qualifying  clauses,  will  facilitate  instead  of  delaying  our  reunion  with  the 
other  branch;  since,  as  the  adoption  of  this  basis  involves  the  creation  of  no  new 
"constitutional  rule,"  nor  any  modification  in  any  pre-existent  rule,  it  is  self- 
evident  that,  provided  it  is  in  the  meantime  indicated  as  the  preference  of  the 
Church,  it  may  be  adopted  by  the  two  General  Assemblies  of  1S69,  and  made  tlie 
basis  of  reunion  by  a  simple  resolution. 

On  th'e  other  hand,  the  adoption  of  the  doctrinal  basis  reported  by  the  Joint 
Committee,  however  well  intended,  may  be  divisive  in  its  tendency.  It  is  very 
complex  in  its  terms,  and  is  already  interpreted  in  different  senses  by  different 
parties.  It  is  a  new  basis,  altering,  in  terms  at  least,  if  not  in  spirit,  the  established 
formula  of  subscription.  Being  a  modification  of  the  ancient  constitutional  form 
of  subscription,  it  cannot  be  made  binding  by  a  mere  resolution  of  the  General 
Assemblies,  but  must  receive,  according  to  the  plan  of  the  Joint  Committee,  the 
suffrages  of  three-fourths  of  the  presbyteries  of  both  branches.  It  is  the  first 
choice  of  neither  party.  It  is  more  or  less  seriously  objected  to  by  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  Old  School,  and  is  conscientiously  protested  against  by  a  respectable 
minority.  It  is  believed  to  be  especially  distasteful  to  tlie  great  body  of  the 
United  and  Reformed  Presbyterians,  and  its  adoption  by  us  would  therefore  em- 
barrass and  tend  to  postpone  our  reunion  with  them. 

Therefore  we  recommend  that  the  presbyteries  adopt,  as  far  as  they  may  be 
able,  the  other  parts  of  the  basis,  and  that  all  presbyteries  which  may  prefer  this 
proposed  article  to  the  one  now  in  the  basis  of  agreement  give  expression  of  their 
desiie  that  the  two  branches  should  unite  on  tliis  basis;    and  that  presbyierie? 


742 


PRESBYTEUIAN    CHURCH. 


which  may  prefer  the  basis  of  the  Joint  Committee,  but  who  are  -willing  to  unite 
on  the  basis  proposed,  give  expression  to  that  willingness,  asking  that  if  it  shall 
appear  that  a  majority  of  the  presbyteries  desire  the  doctrinal  basis  here  proposed, 
or  are  willing  to  accept  it,  the  General  Assembly  may  adopt  such  measures  as,  in 
its  wisdom,  may  be  deemed  best  to  secure  the  concurrence  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  other  branch  ;  and  that  the  stated  clerks  of  the  presbyteries  report  their 
action  to  the  next  General  Assembly. 

We  hereby  most  respectfully  ask  our  Committee  on  Reunion,  whose  prudence, 
wisdom,  patience,  and  great  desire  to  act  so  as  to  subserve  the  highest  interests  of 
the  Church  we  most  highly  appreciate,  either  by  correspondence  or  personal  inter- 
course with  the  Committee  on  Reunion  of  the  New  School,  to  secure  a  recom- 
mendation to  the  presbyteries  of  both  branches,  to  adopt  the  suggestion  made 
above,  so  that  simultaneous  and  imdivided  action  may  be  taken  by  the  presbyteries 
in  both  branches. 

MINISTERS. 


David  McKinney, 
David  Elliott, 
W.  B.  McIlvaine, 
S.  C.  Logan, 
James  I.  Brownson, 
J.  B.  Bittinger. 
James  M.  Platt, 
Richard  Lea, 
S.  M.  Henderson, 
Robert  Carothers, 
Elliott  E.  Swift, 
John  Gillespie, 
W.  W.  Eells, 
A.  A.  Hodge, 
Jno.  Launitz, 
C.  V.  McKaig, 
•James  Allison, 
Williamson  S.  Wrii 
S.  F.  Scovel, 
A.  C.  McClelland, 
John  Kerr, 
S.  J.  Wilson, 
M.  W.  Jacobus, 
J.  E.  Wright, 
L.  R.  McAboy, 
T.  X.  Orr, 
Joseph  Smith, 


Ohio  Presbytery. 
Allegheny  City  Presbytery. 
Ohio  Presbytery. 
Lake  Presbytery. 
Washington  Presbytery. 
Allegheny  City  Presbytery. 
Allegheny  City  Presbytery. 
Ohio  Presbytery, 
Blairsville  Presbytery. 
Blairsville  Presbytery. 
Allegheny  City  I*resbytery. 
Ohio  Presbytery. 
Ohio  Presbytery. 
Allegheny  City  Presbytery. 
Allegheny  Cit,y  Presbytery. 
Ohio  Presbytery. 
Allegheny  City  Presbytery. 
Logansport  Presbytery. 
Ohio  Presbytery. 
Ohio  Presbytery. 
Ohio  Presbytery. 
Ohio  Presbytery. 
Ohio  Presbytery. 
Allegheny  City  Presbytery. 
Allegheny  City  Presbytery. 
Allegheny  City  Presbytery. 
Blairsville  Presbytery. 


EXPLANATORY    AND    STATISTICAL.  743 

W.  D.  Howard,  Oliio  Presbytery, 

James  A.  Reed,  Wooster  Presbytery. 

A.  M.  Reid,  Steuljenville  Presbytery. 

Wm.  a.  West,  Carlisle  Presbytery. 

RULING    ELDERS. 

John  Sample,  Blairsville  Presbytery. 

David  Robinson,  Ohio  Presbytery. 

T.  H.  Nevin,  Allegheny  City  Presbytery. 

J.  B.  Finlay,  Saltsburg  Presbytery. 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  June  25,  1S6S. 

4.  SPEECH  OF  THE  REV.  GEORGE  W.  MUSGRAVE,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
in  Presenting  the  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Conference, 
ETC.,  General  Assembly,  Old  School,  1S69.  Referred  to  on 
PAGE  522. 

The  following  speech  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Musgrave,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
Chairman  of  the  O.  S.  Committee  of  Conference,  on  the  occasion  of  the  presenta- 
tion of  the  Report  of  the  Joint  Committee  of  Conference,  to  the  Old  School  General 
Assembly  sitting  in   the  Brick  Church  in  the  City  of  New  York,  May  27th,  1S69  : 

Mr.  Moderator, —  It  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  be  able  to  report  a  Plan  of 
Union  between  what  are  known  as  the  Old  and  New  School  bodies,  and  to  be  able 
to  say  that  our  report  is  unanimous,  and  is  signed  l)y  every  member  of  each  Com- 
mittee. The  Joint  Committee  report  tluee  papers  to  the  Assembly.  'YXvc first  is 
a  Plan  of  Union,  containing  the  Basis,  which  will  he  sent  down  to  the  Presby- 
teries for  tlieir  acceptance  or  rejection.  The  second  pa|)er  is  a  declaration,  made 
that  there  may  be  a  good  understanding  between  the  two  brandies.  This  paper 
is  not  a  compact  or  covenant,  but  is  a  recommendation  of  certain  arrangements  as 
to  Seminaries,  Boards,  etc.  It  is  no  jjart  of  tlie  Basis  or  Terms  of  Union.  It 
only  recommends  certain  arrangements  as  suitable  to  be  adopted.  The  tJiird  pa- 
per is  one  recommending  a  day  of  prayer  to  .Almighty  God  for  his  guidance  and 
presence,  that  Presbyteries  may  be  under  the  Divine  influence  when  lliey  come  to 
vote  upon  this  momentous  question.  The  report  has  been  printed,  and  will  be 
distributed  as  soon  as  read.  It  has  nut  been  circulated  before,  because  it  was 
feared  that  members  would  be  so  much  engaged  in  the  reading  of  it  lliat  they  would 
not  listen  to  it  with  sufficient  attention.  I  will  now  call  upon  the  Secretary  of  the 
Committee  to  read  the  Report. 

[The  Report  having  been  read,  Dr.  Musgrave  proceeded  :] 

I  have  already,  Mr.  Moderator,  made  a  very  brief  explanation  of  the  character 
of  the  tlnee  papers  submitted  by  the  Joint  Committee.  But  I  wish  :o  make  a  few 
additional  remarks  with  res])ect  to  each  of  them  consecutively. 

The  first  paper,  as  you  will  notice,  is  the  Plan  of  Union,  containing  the  basis   • 
upon  which  it  is  proposed  this  union  shall  be  effected.      That  basis  is  to  be  over 


744  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

tured  to  the  Presbyteries,  and  is  the  only  paper  which  will  be  sent  down  »  the 
Presbyteries  to  be  acted  upon  by  them.  This  basis  is  our  common  Standards  —  is 
the  Confession  of  Faith,  including,  of  course,  the  Larger  and  Shorter  Catechisms, 
agreeably  to  former  decisions  of  the  General  Assembly,  they  being  regarded  as  in- 
cluded in  the  expression,  "  our  Standards." 

REUNION    ON  THE  STANDARDS. 

Now,  sir,  this  is  simple.  We  shall  have  but  one  question  before  us.  Are  we 
prepared  to  approve  of  the  reunion  of  these  two  Assemblies  upon  the  simple  ba- 
sis, the  Confession  of  Faith,  our  common  Form  of  Government  and  Discipline, 
the  doctrines  and  the  polity  which  both  of  the  branches  receive  and  adopt  ?  Well, 
sir,  T  am  compelled  to  say  that,  much  as  I  have  desired  this  union  for  great  objects 
and  for  the  glory  of  God,  I  would  never  have  given  my  consent  to  this  union  upon 
any  other  conceivable  basis.  My  objection  to  all  the  overtures  heretofore  sent 
dovm  was  that  they  add  something  to  the  Standards ;  and,  to  say  the  least,  they 
were  ambiguous,  were  liable  to  be  differently  construed,  and,  in  my  judgment, 
opened  the  door  for  the  introduction  of  errors  which  no  sound  Calvinist  will  ever 
agree  to  endorse.  Give  us  our  pure,  time-honored,  scriptural  Standards,  and  then 
we  can  all  stand  upon  them  as  the  rock  upon  which  our  fathers  have  ever  stood, 
and  upon  which  I  pray  Almighty  God  our  successors  will  ever  stand  till  the  end 
of  time.  Now,  sir,  we  have  had  a  frank  and  a  very  kind  interchange  of  opinions 
in  the  Committee.  We  have  been,  as  your  representatives,  allow  me  to  say,  faith- 
ful to  the  trust  committed  to  us,  loyal  to  Christ  and  to  God's  truth.  We  have 
said  that  when  we  make  the  Standards  the  basis  of  this  union,  we  mean  what  we 
say  —  these  Standards,  nothing  else,  nothing  more,  and  nothing  less.  We  have 
said  that  we  mean  to  maintain  the  system  of  doctrines  taught  in  those  Standards, 
because  we  believe  them  to  be  according  to  God's  Word,  with  constancy  and 
fidelity.  In  other  words,  we  meant  and  wanted  to  be  understood  that  we  never 
intended  to  allow  brethren  to  impair  the  integrity  of  that  system.  If  any  such 
errors  are  propagated,  those  who  are  engaged  in  it  must  expect  to  be  disciplined. 
We  will  maintain,  God  helping  us,  the  purity  of  doctrines  taught  in  our  blessed 
Confession.  That  is  distinctly  understood,  and  I  rejoice  that  in  the  preamble  to 
one  of  the  papers  we  distinctly  announce  that  we  recognize  each  other  as  sound  and 
orthodox  bodies,  thus  advertising  to  all  the  world  that  the  reason  why  these  two 
great  branches  of  the  Church  are  to  be  united  is  Ijecause  we  believe  each  other  to 
be  orthodox,  and  sound  in  the  faith.  So  that  it  musi  be  plain  enough  that  a  uni- 
ted Church,  founded  upon  our  Confession,  each  branch  recognizing  the  other  as 
sound  and  orthodox,  will  never  tolerate  heresy.  Why,  sir,  I  have  not  changed  my 
theological  views  and  my  conscientious  convictions  of  duty  in  the  least  degree  in  re- 
gard to  that,  and  though  I  may  not  live  long,  I  will  endeavor,  as  in  the  past,  by 
God's  grace,  to  defend  and  maintain  the  purity  of  our  doctrines.  That  is  under- 
stood, that  we  receive  the  Confession  sincerely,  and  that  we  mean  to  maintain  and 
defend  it. 


EXPLANATORY    AND    STATISTICAL.  745 

On  the  other  hand  we  have  understood  each  other  on  the  question  of  liberty. 
We  have  said  to  our  brethren,  «'  You  have  possibly  misunderstood  our  branch. 
You,  through  some  representations  made  in  the  papers  by  anonymous  writers  es- 
pecially, have  received  the  impression  that  the  Old  School  church  will  tolerate  no 
difference  of  opinion ;  that  we  are  obliged,  every  man  as  before  his  God,  to  accept 
the  ipsissima  verba  theory ;  and  that  any  man  who  undertakes  to  review,  or  to 
state  or  illustrate  doctrines  in  any  degree  different  from  those  of  Princeton,  for 
instance,  is  to  be  considered  as  a  heretic,  and  to  be  disciplined."  Well,  we  have 
disabused  them  of  that.  We  have  said,  "  B.rethren,  there  have  always  bcLni 
shades  of  difference  m  the  Old  School  Church  ;  and  in  a  body  of  such  intelligent 
and  conscientious  men  there  must  of  necessity  be  differences  of  opinion."  Why, 
sir,  as  long  as  men  thmk  at  all  —  and  may  the  day  never  come  when  one  m.in  shall 
think  for  all  the  rest  —  as  long  as  men  think,  they  will  differ  in  some  respects. 
Now,  sir,  we  have  said  to  them  that  we  understand  that  there  is  to  be  allowed  in 
this  united  Church  a  reasonable  degree  of  liberty ;  that  men  are  not  to  be  made 
offenders  for  a  word  ;  that  we  will  not  encourage  persecution,  or  needless  prose- 
cution, if  you  prefer  it,  but  will  allow  just  such  liberty  in  the  united  Church  as  has 
been  freely  allowed  in  the  Old  School  branch  of  the  Church.  Well,  that  satisfied 
them.  Now,  sir,  we  understand  each  other.  We  are  both  sound,  orthodox  Ijodics, 
pledged  to  that  old  Confession,  understanding  each  other  that  we  mean  to  main- 
tain it  in  its  integrity  ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  that  we  will  allow  all  reasonaljle 
differences  of  opinion  —  that  is  to  say,  such  differences  as  are  consistent  with  main- 
taining the  integrity  of  the  system.  No  opinion  is  to  be  tolerated  that  would  be 
subversive  of  our  system  of  doctrine.  Thus  we  arrived  at  a  harmonious  conclu- 
sion, and,  so  far  as  I  could  judge,  every  man  in  that  Joint  Committee  agreed  tliat 
this  was  fair  and  just,  and  I  think  it  is.  What  more  can  we  ask  than  that  this  ba- 
sis should  be  our  common  Standards,  with  this  understanding  between  the  parties, 
that  it  is  not  to  be  received  insincerely,  wdth  reserve;  that  there  is  to  be  no  tole- 
ration of  material  doctrinal  differences,  while  a  reasonable  liberty  will  be  allowed  ? 
I  thank  God  that  we  have  reached  this  result.  Now  I  can  subscribe  to  it  for  one, 
with  all  my  heart ;  and,  sir,  I  would  be  glad  if  the  other  Calvinistic  and  Presby- 
terian bodies  would  unite  with  us  upon  this  same  broad,  solid,  scriptural  basis. 


WHY   REFER   TO  THE   PRESBYTERIES  ? 

Now,  you  will  ask  why  the  Committee  recommended  that  this  Basis  should  be 
sent  down  to  the  Presbyteries,  and  why  we  did  not  propose  to  consummate  thi^ 
union  here  and  now.  Well,  a  word  of  explanation.  I  think  our  Committee  wert 
of  opinion  that,  if  it  had  been  expedient,  these  two  General  Assemblies  would  liave 
the  constitutional  right  to  effect  this  union  at  once.  That  is  certainly  tlie  opinion 
of  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee.  And  though  I  have  great  respect  for  those 
who  have  expressed  a  different  judgment,  nevertheless  God  has  so  made  me  that  I 
am  obliged  to  do  my  own  thinking.    Often  I  can  agree  with  Princeton ;  I  am  very 


74G  PRESBYTERIAN    CIIUUCII. 

happy  to  agree  with  the  brethren  I  respect  and  love,  and  with  whom  I  have  co- 
operated, some  of  them  at  least,  for  forty  years  or  more.  But  1  must  somehow 
or  other  do  my  own  thinking,  and  I  believe  that  this  Assembly  has  the  right  to 
consummate  this  union  at  once,  if  it  chose  to  do  so,  because  there  is  no  constitu- 
tional change  proposed.  Yes,  if  you  have  a  Smith  or  a  Gurley  amendment,  if  you 
have  anything  else  than  the  simple  Confession,  then  I  agree  that  in  order  to  malce 
it  legal  the  change  must  be  approved  by  the  Presbyteries  ;  but  when  no  constitu- 
tional change  is  proposed,  there  is  no  necessity  for  that. 

Then,  second,  we  have  precedent.  Now  we  know  that  it  has  been  argued 
that,  although  the  Associate  Reformed  Church  was  united  without  sending  the 
question  down  by  overture  to  the  Presbyteries,  yet  it  was  a  small  body.  Why, 
Mr.  Moderator,  that  is  strange  logic  to  me  !  Does  the  size  of  a  body  affect  the 
principle  involved  ?  If  the  Assembly  had  the  constitutional  right  to  unite  with 
that  independent  denomination,  without  asking  leave  of  the  Presbyteries,  cer- 
tainly the  size  of  the  body  does  not  affect  the  principle.  Theft  is  theft,  whether  a 
man  steal  a  j^enny  or  a  million ;  and  so  with  everything  else. 

All,  but  then  it  is  said  that  that  reference  is  unfortunate,  because  the  union  was 
unhappy  !  Why,  that  is  still  stranger  logic  to  me  !  What  would  you  think. 
Moderator,  of  a  man  who  would  gravely  undertake  to  argue  that  the  consumma- 
tion of  a  certain  marriage  was  unlawful,  because  the  union  of  the  parties  was  un- 
happy ?  Is  there  any  logic  in  that  ?  Certainly  not.  I  am  clearly  of  opinion  that 
this  Assembly  would  have  had  the  right  to  do  it. 

Well,  then,  even  admitting  that  in  a  case  of  this  sort,  where  such  great  interests 
are  involved,  it  would  be  proper  to  consult  the  Presbyteries  before  consummating 
union,  has  not  this  been  done?  Have  you  not,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  already  over- 
tured  the  Presbyteries  twice  ?  Has  not  a  large  majority  of  your  Presbyteries  de- 
clared, in  answer  to  your  overtures,  that  they  approve  this  union,  provided  you 
would  omit  one  or  two  amendments  in  the  first  article  ?  Now,  I  submit  that  it 
looks  to  me  something  like  a  quibble  to  say  that  the  thing  has  not  been  overtured. 
It  has  been.  The  Presbyteries  have  answered,  and  they  have  said,  "  Yes,  you 
may  do  it  ;  we  will  approve  of  it,  provided  you  will  omit  one  or  two  amendments 
in  the  first  or  doctrinal  article." 

Well,  notwithstanding  such  are  my  own  views,  and  I  believe  I  am  expressing  the 
views  of  the  entire  Committee  of  Conference  appointed  by  you,  nevertheless  we 
thought  that  it  would  not  be  expedient  to  undertake  to  consummate  the  union  at 
once.  Some  thirty,  perhaps  speaking  correctly,  as  some  gentleman  has  undertaken 
to  count  them,  thirty-one  Presbyteries,  some  of  them  the  largest  and  intellectually 
and  morally  among  the  most  influential  in  our  body,  liave  said  that  tJiis  thing 
would  be  either  unconstitutional,  for  that  was  the  voice  of  some,  and  in  others 
that  it  would  not  be  judicious  or  wise,  and  they  have  insisted  upon  it  that  it  ought 
to  be  overtured  to  them  before  it  is  consummated.  Well,  sir,  it  was  our  opinion, 
decidedly  my  own,  that  we  ought  to  defer  to  the  views  and  the  feelings  of  llicse 
brctliren,  and  send  the  thing  down  to  them.  Wiiy,  sir,  we  don't  want  an  inhar- 
monious unioiu     We  don't  want  to  get  up  a  contest  at  t!ie  very  outset  with  regard 


EXPLANATOllY    AND    STATISTICAL.  747 

to  the  constitutionality  of  the  union  when  it  is  perfected.  We  don't  want  to  sour 
these  brethren,  or  to  force  them  into  antagonism  with  us.  No,  sir.  We  hope, 
and  now  I  will  say  that  I  am  very  sanguine  in  my  hope,  that  tiie  great  mass  of 
those  brethren,  if  you  send  it  down,  will  all  express  approval  of  it,  and  come  into 
the  union  heartily,  and  so  we  will  have  an  harmonious  union,  which  will  vastly 
promote  our  happiness  and  efficiency  ;  so  that  I  am  gi-atified  at  this  compromise, 
if  I  may  so  express  it.  Instead  of  doing  the  thing  at  once,  send  it  down,  and  let  the 
brethren  have  what  they  claim  as  rights —  the  opportunity  of  expressing  their  judg- 
ment. 

But,  sir,  while  we  were  willing  to  delay  this  matter  for  so  important  a  purpose, 
we  felt  that  there  were  other  interests,  great  and  enduring,  that  ought  to  be  con- 
sulted likewise,  and  that  we  ought  not  unnecessarily  to  postpone  this  matter.  In- 
stead, therefore,  of  providing  that  the  next  General  Assembly  shall  count  the  votes 
and  take  the  order  according  to  the  instructions  of  the  Presbytery,  we  propose  to 
adjourn  the  Assemblies —  these  Assemblies  now  sitting,  to  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber, giving  the  Presbyteries  the  opportunity  of  voting  in  October,  so  that  next 
November,  having  received  their  answers,  if  they  are  favorable,  as  I  doubt  not  they 
wiU  be,  then  in  November  the  Assembly  can  take  such  order  as  will  enable  the  As- 
sembly of  1870  to  be  an  Assembly  of  the  United  Church,  making  arrangements  for 
the  manner  in  which  that  Assembly  shall  be  organized. 


REASONS    FOR   TWO-THIRDS    VOTE. 

Well,  now,  sir,  a  word  of  explanation  in  regard  to  a  change  which  you  perhaps 
have  noticed.  Hitherto  we,  the  Committees,  have  recommended  that  three-fourths 
of  the  Presbyteries  shall  be  necessary  to  determine  this  question,  and  we  seriously 
considered  that  point,  and  after  the  most  mature  deliberations  it  was  thought  that 
under  existing  circumstances,  and  in  view  of  the  great  interests  involved,  a  two- 
thirds  vote  was  more  proper  and  judicious.  It  did  not  seem  to  us  to  be  right  to  al- 
low a  minority  of  one-fourth  to  govern  the  Church  in  the  settlement  of  this  grand 
question.  Minorities  have  governed  the  world,  the  Church  of  God ;  and,  sir,  in 
direct  accordance  with  one  of  our  fundamental  principles,  we  thought  a  majority 
should  govern.  Why,  sir,  even  with  respect  to  constitutional  changes,  our  Govern- 
ment demands  nothing  more  tlian  a  majority  vote.  It  is  not  right  that  a  small  mi- 
nority should  control  and  govern  the  Church  of  God.  There  are,  sir,  we  also  re- 
mark, some  Presbyteries  from  which  we  do  not  hear,  we  know  not  from  what 
cause.  It  is  not  peculiar  with  respect  to  this  question.  Some  have  noticed  it  for 
many  years.  No  matter  what  questions  you  send  down  to  the  Presbyteries,  there 
will  always  be  a  number  of  them  that  will  make  no  response  ;  and  unfortunately 
our  Government  requires  us  to  count  them  as  dissenting.  Now,  sir,  if  I  have  l)ecn 
correctly  informed,  for  I  have  been  out  of  the  house  on  these  Committees  almost 
all  the  time  during  your  proceedings,  I  camiot  therefore  speak,  perhaps,  with  that 
accuracy  that  I  might  if  I  had  been  present  and  heard  tiie  thing;  but  I  understood 
that  some  thirty  Presbyteries  sent  up  no  report.      Well,  now,  are  all  those  thirty 


748  PRESBYTERIAlSr    CHURCH. 

Presliyteries  opposed  to  Union  ?  I  don't  believe  it.  I  can't  believe  it.  And  yet, 
sir,  in  counting  the  votes,  you  must  count  them  as  dissenting.  You  can  only  count 
the  votes  for  and  against,  and  the  question  must  be  detet-mined  by  the  majority  of 
the  votes  returned.  Well,  sir,  that  is  a  very  grave  consideration  in  this  matter. 
If  we  could  be  certain  that  all  Presbyteries  vi^ould  make  a  return,  then  perhaps  it 
would  not  only  be  safe,  but  wise  and  proper,  to  make  it  three-fourths. 

But,  sir,  knowing  that  in  all  previous  time  many  Presbyteries  failed  to  send  up 
a  report ;  and  even  upon  this  question  of  Union,  that  has  so  stirred  the  hearts  of 
the  great  masses  of  our  people  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  even 
on  this  grand  question  of  Union,  thirty  Presbyteries,  if  I  am  rightly  informed,  send 
no  answer  to  your  overtures  —  thirty-five,  the  Stated  Clerk  tells  me,  and  that  in- 
creases the  weight  of  my  argument  —  thirty-five  Presbyteries  !  —  as  prudent  men 
we  thought  it  would  not  be  judicious  to  measure  the  result  by  requiring  a  three- 
fourths  vote,  if  all  the  Presbyteries  should  not  be  heard  from.  Not  that  if  I  were 
certain  that  three-fourths  of  all  the  Presbyteries  would  not  sanction  this  thing,  I 
would  .seriously  doubt  whether  the  time  had  come  for  us  to  consummate  it.  But 
I  felt,  like  my  brethren  of  the  Committee,  I  felt  unwilling  that  thirty-five  negligent 
Presbyteries,  or  owing  to  the  miscarrying  of  their  responses,  or  to  the  neglect  of 
their  stated  clerks,  or  from  any  cause,  —  that  thirty-five  silent  Presliyteries  should 
turn  the  scale  against  the  consummation  of  this  blessed  Union.  No,  sir,  we  looked 
at  it  carefully,  and  we  thought  that  two-thirds  is  the  proper  number,  and  I  trust 
the  Assembly  will  agree  with  us.  Surely,  from  what  we  know  of  the  great  heart  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  whose  pulsations  are  felt  in  every  section  of  our  land, 
surely,  if  two-thirds  of  these  Presbyteries  say  aye,  we  ought  to  take  it  as  the  voice 
of  God  in  his  providence. 


CONCURRENT   DECLARATION 

Now,  sir,  -n  regard  to  the  articles  contained  in  the  second  paper,  called  the 
Declaration,  etc.,  I  have  already  stated  to  the  Assembly  that  that  don't  form  a  part 
of  the  Basis.  They  are  not  a  compact  or  covenant,  but  they  suggest  to  the  Assem- 
bly what  are  suitable  arrangements.  I  will  not  repeat  what  I  have  said,  except  to 
call  your  attention  to  that  important  distinction.  They  are  not  terms  of  the  union. 
They  may  be  annulled  or  modified,  as  any  future  Assembly  may  deem  proper.  We 
told  our  brethren  that  we  were  unwilling  to  tie  the  hands  of  the  future  Church  of 
God,  and  I  for  one  was  very  decided  upon  that  point ;  and  I  will  say  to  you  that  I 
wcHild  have  risked,  yes,  risked  the  failure  of  this  Union  at  the  present  time,  rather 
than  concede  that  these  articles  should  be  imchangeable,  though  I  cannot  foresee 
that  there  will  be  any  necessity  in  the  future  to  change  them.  I  am  neither  a 
propiiet,  nor  the  son  of  a  prophet ;  but  I  think  I  have  some  little  common  sense, 
and  I  felt  that  it  would  be  unsafe  for  us  to  imperil  the  future  by  trammelling  the 
Church  of  God,  preventing  it  from  exercising  its  liberty  and  from  dealing  with  cir- 
cumstances as  they  might  arise  in  the  providence  of  ( jod.     Sir,  we  were  very  de- 


EXPLANATORY   AND    STATISTICAL.  749 

cided  and  determined  that  those  articles  should  not  form  a  part  of  the  compact, 
but  that  they  should  be  suggestions  and  recommendations,  in  order  that  the  Presby- 
teries  should  get  an  understanding  between  the  parties.  But,  sir,  it  is  due  to  fair- 
ness that  I  should  say,  and  I  repeat  it  now  publicly,  in  order  that  it  may  have  a 
response  from  this  house,  we  did  say  to  these  brethren,  "  We  will  not  consent  to 
make  these  articles  a  covenant ;  we  won't  adopt  them  as  a  legal  compact,  binding 
upon  the  future ;  yet  we  are  acting  in  good  faith  and  as  honorable  men,  and  we 
say  to  you  that  we  will  not  change  them  at  any  future  time  without  obviously  good 
and  sufficient  reasons."  And  I,  for  one,  will  feel  bound  in  honor  to  maintain 
those  articles,  so  long  as  they  can  be  maintained  without  serious  detriment  to  the 
interests  of  the  Church  of  God  ;  and  I  hope  this  Assembly  will  understand  it  so,  in 
all  honor  and  in  good  faith,  when  we  have  said  that  we  proposed  these  arrange- 
ments, that  we  did  not  intend  that  they  should  be  ephemeral,  nor  that  we  should 
take  advantage  of  our  numerical  majority  and  alter  them  to  conform  to  our  pe- 
culiar interests  and  wishes.  No,  I  told  the  brethren  of  the  other  side  that  they 
could  trust  my  Church  ;  that  they  were  men  of  honor  and  good  faith  ;  and  if  you 
ratified  this  thing,  you  would  stand  by  it,  and  future  Assemblies  would  stand  by  it, 
until  in  the  progress  of  events  some  good  and  sufficient  reason  should  exist  for 
their  modification. 


SAFETY  ON   THE  PROPOSED   BASIS. 

Now,  sir,  I  have  but  a  few  more  words.  Perhaps  I  have  already  occupied  too 
much  time  ;  but  my  apology  is  in  my  official  relation  to  the  Committee.  Permit 
me  to  say  a  few  words  in  regard  to  the  general  subject.  I  believe  that  the  basis  we 
have  proposed  is  perfectly  safe  for  the  Church  of  God.  If  I  thought  otherwise,  I 
would  not  advocate  it,  I  would  not  consent  to  it.  In  my  conscience  and  before 
God,  I  believe  that  the  doctrines  of  our  beloved  Church  are  safe  on  that  basis.  I 
believe  that  the  whole  body  of  the  other  branch  are  orthodox,  in  our  sense  of  that 
word.  That  there  are  some  men  among  them,  as  perhaps  among  us,  whose  theol- 
ogy neither  you  nor  I  could  endorse,  I  admit ;  but  if  we  wait  to  consummate  this 
union  until  we  are  ready  to  endorse  the  opinions  of  every  man,  we  will  wait  cer- 
tainly until  the  millennium. 

No,  sir,  there  is  no  perfect  Church  on  earth.  No  matter  how  long  you  would 
wait,  why,  sir,  you  would  never  have  it.  I  venture  to  say  that  if  you  would  not 
organize  this  General  Assembly  until  you  were  satisfied  that  every  man — every 
minister  and  every  ruling  elder  constituting  your  constituency  —  until  you  would 
believe  that  every  man  of  them,  clergy  and  ruling  elders,  were  perfectly  orthodox, 
you  would  never  have  a  General  Assembly  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian 
Church  ! 

Now,  sir,  all  that  I  cared  for  was  that  the  law  should  be  right ;  that  if  any 
opinions  were  propagated  which  seemed  to  us  to  be  inconsistent  with  an  honest 
subscription  to  our  standards,  we  should  not  be  obliged  to  try  the  man  upon  a 


750  PRESBYTEEIAlSr    CHURCH. 

Gurley  law,  or  upun  a  Smith  law,  but  upon  the  old  law  of  our  Westininster  Con- 
fession.    If  the  law  is  right,  it  is  our  fault  if  we  don't  justly  apply  it. 

Well,  sir,  so  much  for  that.  I  believe  they  are  sound  and  orthodox  as  a  body, 
just  as  I  believe  we  are.  I  will  not  go  into  any  detail  here.  Suffice  it  to  say, 
Moderator,  I  have  considered  it  my  duty,  as  an  individual,  to  satisfy  my  owm  con- 
science with  respect  to  that  vital  pomt,  not  simply  on  account  of  my  past  personal 
history,  and  my  public  testimonies  on  this  subject,  but  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  in 
order  that  I  might  discharge  my  individual  duty  to  Christ  and  to  God's  people.  I 
have  carefully  endeavored  to  satisfy  my  own  mind  with  regard  to  that  vital  point. 
It  would  not  be  proper  for  me  to  state  the  process  which  I  adopted  —  the  methods, 
nor  to  detail  the  operations.  All  I  shall  say  to  my  brethren  is  this  :  that  mth  no 
undue  prejudice  for  or  against  them,  I  have  endeavored  to  inform  myself  as  to  the 
character  of  the  other  branch  ;  and  the  result  has  been  that  I  for  one  am  satisfied 
that  they  are  substantially  sound,  and  that  there  is  no  material  difference  between 
us ;  and  that  as  to  those  points  upon  which  we  divided,  thirty  odd  years  ago,  they 
have  all  passed  away.  We  are  no  longer  troubled  with  them,  and  they  will  not 
corrupt  us. 

CHANGE   OF   CIRCUMSTANCES. 

Why,  sir,  the  change  of  circumstances  is  almost  radically  entire.  I  will  not 
enter  into  that,  lest  I  should  speak  too  long.  There  were  causes  in  operation 
from  1828  up  to  1838  which  we  had  good  reason  to  dread,  and  which  were  un- 
doubtedly corrupting  and  revolutionizing  the  Church  of  God.  I  have  never  said, 
because  I  have  never  felt,  as  some  men  have  said  and  doubtless  felt  —  I  have  never 
said  that  I  regretted  the  part  I  took  in  that  early  conflict.  Sir,  were  we  to  meet 
in  the  same  circumstances,  I  would  repeat,  God  helping  me,  the  same  conduct.  I 
will  rebuke  heresy  now,  as  I  did  then.  I  would  resist  any  attempt  to  revolutionize 
the  Presbyterian  Church  and  to  make  it  Congregational.  I  will  do  it  now  with  as 
much  vigor,  if  I  have  still  left  the  mental  and  physical  strength  that  I  had  tliirty 
odd  years  ago ;  at  any  rate  I  would  do  it  with  all  the  power  that  God  would 
give  me. 

Sir,  the  circumstances  are  different.  We  are  not  called  upon  to  watch  the 
Home  Missionary  Society  and  the  American  Education  Society.  We  have  not 
got  to  watch  the  notoriously  unsound  Congi-egationalists,  who  were  undoubtedly 
at  that  time  spreading  sentiments  which  were  grossly  offensive  to  Old  School  men. 
Sir,  that  day  has  passed  away.  These  brethren  have  their  Committees  of  Mis- 
sions, their  Education  and  Publication  Committees.  They  are  prepared  to  con- 
solidate them  with  our  Boards,  and  to  act  together  with  us  on  ecclesiastical  princi- 
ples. Well,  voluntaryism  has  ceased  to  have  any  influence,  as  have  also  the 
unsound  Congregationalists.  And  I  qualify  my  remark  always  when  I  speak  of 
Congregationalists,  because  there  are  two  classes  of  them  ;  there  is  a  class  of 
Congregationalists  who  are  orthodox,  sound  men,  eminently  pious  men,  whom  1 
would  welcome  into  the  Presbyterian  Church,  for  they  are  Presbyterians,  as  well 
as  Calvinists  in  their  views.      Why,  sir,  such  men  I  have  no  suspicion  of     I  will 


EXPLAIS-ATORY    AND     STATISTICAL.  751 

receive  them  with  open  arms  to  my  heart.  All  I  ask  is  for  a  man  to  be  a  good 
Calvinist,  and  a  thorough  Presbyterian,  and  a  sound  Christian,  and  I  don't  care 
from  what  quarter  he  comes,  whether  from  the  North,  or  the  East,  or  the  South, 
or  the  West.  Somehow  or  other,  I  have  such  an"  affection  for  all  the  families  of 
real  Calvinists  and  Presbyterians,  that  I  can  talce  in  all  New  England  that  is 
sound,  all  the  Canadas,  and  Great  Britain,  and  Ireland,  and  the  whole  world 
Some  men  like  to  repeat  that  remark  of  Whiteficid,  that  there  will  be  no  Presby 
terians  and  no  Methodists,  etc.,  in  heaven.  Well,  sir,  I  don't  know  any  more 
about  heaven  than  Whitefield  did,  as  I  have  never  been  there.  I  don't  know  ex- 
actly vvliat  form  of  worship  they  have,  but  I  have  an  idea  that  it  will  be  Presby- 
terian. And,  brethren,  I  will  give  you  my  reason.  I  don't  say  I  never  have 
expressed  an  opinion  without  thinking  I  had  a  good  reason  for  it ;  but  I  think  I 
have  in  this  case,  and  the  reason  why  I  think  their  worship  will  be  like  ours  in 
heaven  is  because  I  believe  that  our  mode  of  worship  is  what  God  inspires ;  that 
we  have  the  principles  and  the  examples  of  the  apostles  and  prophets ;  and  as  God 
inspires  this  simple  form  of  worship  here,  I  suppose  he  will  approve  of  it  there. 

But  certain  I  am  of  this,  or  more  certain  I  should  say,  that  we  will  all  beliere  the 
doctrines  of  Paul  when  we  get  to  heaven.  I  believe  what  Augustine  and  John 
Calvin  taught ;  but  I  would  not  like  myself  to  say  that  we  will  all  be  Calvinists  in 
heaven.  But  I  will  say  this,  that  we  will  all  believe  in  accordance  with  the  reve- 
lation which  God  gave  through  the  Apostle  Paul,  and  by  that  I  understand  Cal- 
vinism ;  and  therefore  I  think  that  we  shall  all  have  that  system  of  doctrines  in 
heaven.  Why,  sir,  I  have  another  reason  for  it,  if  this  is  not  too  much  out  of  the 
way.  No  matter  how  much  certain  denominations  may  differ  from  us  specula- 
tively and  when  in  controversy,  if  you  just  get  them  to  pray  —  I  don't  mean  in 
heaven,  for  you  can't  get  there  yet,  but  on  earth — ask  these  good  Methodist 
brethren  to  pray  right  after  they  have  been  talking  about  Calvinism,  and  if  they 
don't  pray  Calvinism  I  will  wonder.  Well,  get  their  hymns,  and  when  they  come 
to  worship  God  in  that  part  of  the  service,  why  some  of  the  purest  and  best 
Calvinism  that  you  will  find  anywhere  you  will  find  in  some  of  their  hymns.  They 
don't  know  it  by  the  name.  Well  now,  sir,  I  argue  that  the  work  of  the  Spirit 
must  correspond  with  his  teachings  in  his  Word.  We  have  not  the  doctrines  and 
the  experiences  of  the  saints  in  heaven ;  but  we  see  the  teachings  and  the  work  of 
God's  Spirit  on  the  minds  and  hearts  of  his  people  upon  the  earth. 

NO   VALID   OBJECTIONS. 

Well,  sir,  enough  for  that.  I  am  satisfied  that  we  can  safely  unite,  because  we 
tre  orthodox,  both  of  us,  and  I  think  too  that  we  ought  to  do  it,  because  we  are 
-agreed.  Why,  sir,  a  man  ought  to  give  some  grave  reason,  and  obviously  good 
veason,  why  this  union  should  not  be  effected,  because  it  is  so  natural,  it  is  .so 
proper  in  itself;  the  parties  are  really  atone — just  as  I  hold  that  no  man  can  reach 
forty-five  without  being  married,  and  be  excusable,  without  a  good  reason  ;  for  a 
man  ought  to  give  a  good  reason.     If  it  is  not  his  fault,  he  is  not  to  blame.     Well, 


752  PRESBYTERIAlsr    CHURCH. 

now,  my  logic  on  that  subject  is  this,  I  premise  that  no  man  shows  more  folly  than 
when  he  undertakes  to  be  wiser  than  God.  That  is  an  axiom.  Now  the  Almighty 
has  said,  "  It  is  not  good  for  man  to  be  alone ;  "  and  therefore  a  man  ought  to  have 
a  good  reason.  Paul  had  a  gocfd  reason  —  a  good  reason,  and  so  have  some  others 
of  God's  people.  Well  now,  sir,  it  is  not  for  me  to  publicly  tell  what  Paul's  rea 
son  was,  or  the  reason  of  anybody  else  ;  but,  sir,  there  is  the  argument.  Now  i 
say  that  no  man  is  justified  in  voting  against  this  union,  this  marriage  if  you  please, 
between  these  two  parties,  unless  he  has  a  good  reason  for  forbidding  the  banns. 
Why,  sir,  if  two  were  to  come  up  here  and  want  to  be  married,  and  somebody 
were  to  say,  I  object  to  it,  wouldn't  you,  Mr.  Moderator,  ask  him  why?  Certainly 
you  would,  and  if  he  couldn't  give  a  good  reason,  you  would  proceed.  So  I  would 
take  it.  No  man  can  vote  agamst  his  own  creed.  We  have  fixed  it  so,  I  won't 
call  it  a  trap,  that  a  man  must  have  a  prodigious  amount  of  moral  courage,  I 
won't  say  impudence,  to  vote  against  himself,  against  his  ovm  creed.  Now,  sir,  if 
we  put  anything  else  to  it,  he  might  object  to  it ;  but,  sir,  haven't  you,  before  God 
and  his  Church,  declared  that'  you  receive  and  adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith  ?  for 
that  is  the  creed. 

THE  ADVANTAGE  AND  THE  DANGER. 

The  time  has  come  when  this  thing  ought  to  be  settled,  because  it  is  proper  and 
right  in  itself —  and  now  I  come  to  my  last  remark.  I  sometimes  speak  longer 
than  I  should.  An  old  Scotch  woman  was  told  that  her  new  preacher  read  his 
sermons.  She  was  told  to  go  into  the  gallery  and  she  would  find  it  to  be  true. 
She  did  so,  and  sure  enough  she  found  that  in  the  big  Bible  he  had  a  little  paper 
book,  and  when  he  came  to  the  end  she  was  fairly  boiling  over.  When  the  minis- 
ter remarked,  "I  will  enlarge  no  further,"  she  squealed  out,  "Ye  canna ;  the 
paper  is  oot  ! "  Now,  brethren,  it  has  never  been  my  habit  to  read,  and  of  course 
not  to  write,  and  I  could  tell  you  some  funny  things  about  these  pressmen  who 
wanted  to  get  a  copy  of  the  sermon  that  I  preached.  Why,  bless  your  souls,  said 
I,  not  a  line  have  I  written.  But  the  press  went  and  pressed  me  until,  with  the 
aid  of  an  amanuensis,  I  filled  up  the  heads.  I  am  not  in  that  predicament  now, 
and  therefore  may  talk  too  long.  I  will  try  to  be  short  for  the  remamder  of  the 
time.  I  do  not  want  this  union  simply  because  I  think  it  is  the  will  of  God,  and 
because  I  think  it  is  safe,  and  proper,  and  natural ;  but  I  want  it  for  the  great 
work  that  we  have  before  us.  Now,  m  my  official  position,  perhaps  I  have  been 
able  to  appreciate  this  more  sensibly  than  many  of  my  brethren  ;  for  I  have  cries 
for  help,  pleas  for  men  and  means,  in  all  quarters  of  this  great  land.  Well,  sir,  it 
has  been  my  duty  to  study  the  map  of  our  country,  and  to  keep  myself  acquainted 
with  its  moral  destitutions,  and  oh,  the  weight  that  these  things  have  upon  our 
spirits  !  So  much  to  do,  so  weak,  and  so  little  power  to  do  it  with  !  In  behalf  o  f 
millions  of  souls  I  implore  you  to  combine  your  forces  for  the  conquest  of  this  land 
and  the  evangelization  of  the  world  !  Oh,  what  a  power  there  will  be  in  this  com- 
bination, not  simply  by  real  multiplication,  according  to  our  numerical  strength  J 


EXPLANATORY   AND     STATISTICAL.  753 

Why,  that  is  not  the  half  of  it.  It  is  not  that  you  are  to  have  in  one  Church  so 
many  more  men  and  so  many  more  dollars  ;  but,  sir,  you  are  to  have  a  spirit  there, 
you  are  to  have  a  faith  there,  you  are  to  have  an  enterprise  there,  and  energy  and 
courage,  which  are  so  much  needed  in  this  grand  work  before  us.  It  is  not  always 
the  large  army  that  is  the  most  effective.  It  may  be  disorganized  ;  it  may  be  dis- 
couraged. Sometimes  a  much  smaller  host,  united  with  mutual  confidence,  will 
attack  and  overcome  the  far  larger  force,  by  dint  of  discipline  and  spirit.  Now, 
su,  I  think  that  if  this  union  is  consummated  you  vnil  mfuse  a  spirit  of  hope,  of 
faith,  of  zeal,  of  renewed  courage.  All  our  ministers,  all  our  elders,  all  our  people, 
will  have  a  heart ;  and  that  is  what  we  want.  They  will  have  a  heart  to  work,  and 
there  is  no  telling  what  good  may  be  accomplished.  Why,  sir,  there  is  not  an 
infidel,  there  is  not  a  Jesuit  in  this  land  that  would  not  rejoice  at  the  failure  of 
this  attempt  at  reunion  !  They  delight  in  our  divisions  ;  they  lament  our  unions ; 
yes,  I  have  thought  that  I  could  trace  the  hand  of  a  Jesuit  in  many  an  article  that 
I  have  read  in  the  Protestant  papers  within  the  last  thirty-eight  years.  Sir,  you 
know  what  a  Jesuit  is,  and  therefore  I  need  not  describe  him.  But,  sir,  they 
dread  the  Presbyterian  Church  more  than  all  others  combmed.  One  of  their 
priests  once  said  to  me,  "  We  Aate  the  Methodists,  but  -we  fear  you."  Fear  you  ! 
Now,  sir,  in  order  that  you  may  give  a  blow  to  infidelity  and  Sabbath  desecration, 
that  you  may  give  a  check  to  Romanism,  in  God's  name  reunite  these  hosts,  that 
you  may  do  battle  in  the  name  of  King  Jesus.  Only  let  us  guard,  brethren,  against 
one  temptation.  Just  as  sure  as  you  live,  if  it  promotes  vanity,  and  ambition,  and 
self-sufficiency,  God  will  frown  upon  it.  That  is  now  about  the  greatest  danger 
I  apprehend.  It  is  that  if  we  consummate  this  union  we  will  feel  proud  and  self- 
sufficient.  Oh  that  God  would  keep  us  from  that  spirit ;  that  he  would  make  us 
humble,  and  help  us  to  realize  our  absolute  dependence  upon  him ;  and  that  he 
would  give  us  the  spirit  of  prayer  after  the  union  as  well  as  before  it ;  that  he  would 
make  it  a  blessing  to  the  Church  and  to  the  world  !  May  God  speed  this  happy 
work,  and  this  year  not  close  until  this  union  is  declared  effected  ! 


5.     PASTORAL  LETTER  OF  1869.     By  the  Rev.  M.  W,  Jacobus,  D.D., 
LL.D.    Referred  to  on  page  546. 

T/ie  General  Assemblies  of  both  Branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  iti  the 
United  States  of  America,  to  the  Presbyteries  and  Churches  under  their 


Beloved  Brethren,  —  You  are  already  informed  of  the  successive  measures 
which  have  been  adopted  durmg  the  last  three  years,  designed  to  effect  an  organic 
union  of  the  two  great  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  these  United 
States.  The  several  conferences  and  overtures  of  preceding  Committees  and  As- 
semblies having  accomplished  much  in  the  interest  of  mutual  understanding  and  of 
Christian  confidence,  the  two  General  Assemblies  recently  convened  in  the  city  of 
48 


764  PRESBYTEltlAN    CHURCH. 

New  York  found  themselves  ready,  very  promptly,  to  agree,  as  they  have  agreed 
with  signal  unanimity,  upon  a  basis  of  Reunion. 

This  basis  is  simply  the  doctrinal  and  ecclesiastical  basis  of  our  standards,  here- 
tofore and  now  common  to  both  branches —  "  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Form 
of  Government  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States,"  without  note 
or  comment,  without  restriction  or  qualification.  Each  body,  equally  with  the 
other,  recognizes  and  abides  by  this  platform,  as  the  natural  and  constitutional 
ground  for  those  claiming  to  be  Presbyterians ;  and  as  the  true,  safe,  consistent 
and  unchallengeable  ground  for  these  two  bodies  coming  again  to  be  one. 

We  have  commingled  our  prayers  and  praises  as  one  Assembly,  and  we  have 
communed  together  at  the  table  of  our  common  Lord  as  one  "  body  in  Christ  ;  " 
and  we  believe  that  the  spirit  of  love  and  concord  has  been  shed  down  upon  us, 
leading  to  this  good  result. 

The  great  questions  of  our  cherished  formulas,  which  are  solemnly  propounded 
in  the  licensure  and  ordination  of  ministers,  and  in  the  ordination  of  ruling  elders 
and  deacons,  namely:  "Do  you  believe  the  Scriptures,  etc.?"  "Do  you  sin- 
cerely receive  and  adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith  of  this  Church,  as  containing  the 
system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures?  "  and,  "  Do  you  approve  of  the 
government  and  discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  these  United  States  ?  "  — 
these  vital  questions  are  here  addressed  by  each  to  the  other  of  these  great  bodies. 
And  as  to  each  of  these  questions  each  of  these  bodies  responds  to  the  other,  and 
to  the  world,  with  an  unqualified  Aye  !  Several  items,  not  in  the  basis,  are  ap- 
pended as  "  Concurrent  Declarations  of  the  General  Assemblies  of  1S69."  They 
express  certain  mutual  understandings  to  be  carried  out  in  good  faith,  though  not 
of  the  nature  of  a  contract. 

So  simple  a  plan,  and  so  constitutional,  with  such  unanimous  adoption  by  your 
representatives  in  both  Assemblies,  seemed  to  some  to  warrant  an  immediate  con- 
summation. But  unanimous  as  were  the  General  Assemblies,  they  were  not 
disposed  to  deny  to  any  presbytery  the  free  expression  of  its  opinion  and  suffrage, 
even  though  this  may  seem  to  have  been  given  already  in  advance. 

Accordingly  it  was  ordered  tliat  the  plan  of  Reunion  above  described  should 
be  transmitted  to  you  for  your  formal  and  official  approval.  It  only  remains  that 
you  take  prompt  and  harmonious  action  upon  it,  such  as  is  indicated  by  the  action 
of  your  delegates,  and  that  you  send  up  to  the  respective  General  Assemblies 
your  Presbyterial  ratification ;  and  then  the  separation  which  has  lasted  neaily  half 
the  century  thus  far,  and  almost  a  whole  generation,  will  be  happily  ended,  and 
we  shall  surely  gird  ourselves  for  a  new  stadium  of  our  career  in  the  work  and 
service  of  our  Lord. 

We  beg  you  to  notice  that,  inasmuch  as  the  affirmative  vote  of  two-thirds  of 
the  presbyteries  connected  with  each  Assembly  is  requisite,  each  presbytery  must 
act,  or  be  counted  in  the  negative.  And  action  must  be  taken  definitely,  on  or 
before  the  15th  day  of  October;  and  a  statement  of  the  vote  of  the  presbytery 
must  be  certified  to  the  stated  clerk  of  its  Assembly,  prior  to  November  ist.  And 
besides,  in  order  to  secure  transmission,  the  Commissioners  should  bring  up  in 


EXPLANATORY    AND     STATISTICAL.  755 

hand  to  the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Assembly  in  Pittsburg,  on  the  loth  of  No 
vember,  a  duplicate  certificate  of  the  action  of  their  respective  presbyteries. 

And  now,  brethren,  do  not  the  times  demand  of  us  such  organic  consolidation, 
when  the  forces  of  antichrist  are  everywhere  organizing  union  against  the  Lord 
and  against  his  anointed,  and  when  the  rallying  call  for  an  Ecumenical  Council 
goes  forth  from  Rome,  that  would  fain  muster  her  recruits  from  the  Protestant 
ranks  for  the  great  coming  conflict?  Our  best  answer  to  the  Pope's  Encyclical 
will  be  our  Reunion  in  November,  in  season  to  be  communicated  to  the  Papal 
conclave  at  the  Vatican  in  December.  We  are  loudly  summoned  to  reunite  now, 
when  such  gigantic  enterprises  are  on  foot  to  subvert  our  holy  religion,  when  all 
forms  of  misbelief  and  disbelief  are  banding  their  forces  to  destroy  the  Christian 
faith,  to  break  down  the  Christian  Sabbath,  to  demoralize  society,  and  to  root 
out  our  blessed  Christianity  from  the  world ;  when  Romanism,  Rationalism,  and 
Ritualism  make  up  the  Trine  Falsehood  which  denies  all  that  is  vital  in  our 
doctrine  and  worship ;  and  when  the  great  Deceiver  goes  forth,  in  all  the  earth, 
with  sleepless  energy,  to  instigate  kings  and  peoples  to  all  the  horrid  orgies  of 
Atheism.  At  such  a  fearful  crisis  ought  any  evangelizing  energy  to  be  wasted  or 
misapplied?  At  the  moment  of  final  conflict,  is  it  not  a  woful  mistake  to  turn 
our  guns  against  battalions  of  our  own  army,  who  come  to  join  our  ranks,  bearing 
aloft  our  banners  ?  Our  Confession  dwells  much  upon  "  the  communion  of  saints" 
(see  chap.  26). 

And  if  there  should  be  any  dissent  from  the  plan  so  unanimously  agreed  upon 
by  your  representatives,  then  is  it  not  the  true  Presbyterian  loyalty  that  a  minority 
should  defer,  in  all  good  conscience,  and  in  all  Christian  charity,  to  the  Presbyte- 
rial  majority  —  "  following  after  the  things  that  make  for  peace,  and  things  where- 
with one  may  edify  another"?  (Rom.  xiv.  19). 

And  now,  beloved  brethren,  let  us  not  boast  ourselves,  as  if  by  the  mere  force 
of  such  a  compact  our  great  work  could  be  achieved ;  else,  like  Jacob  in  his 
success  with  the  wrestling  angel,  the  sinew  of  the  thigh  will  be  shrunk,  and  we 
shall  be  sent  halting  on  our  way  (Gen.  xxxii.  25,  31,  32).  Nor,  on  the  other 
hand,  let  any  one  foster  suspicions  or  stir  up  strifes.  Even  torches  of  truth  may 
be  mischievously  placed  so  as  to  set  on  fire  the  standing  com,  and  vuieyards,  and 
olives,  that  give  such  glorious  promise  of  harvest  (Judg.  xv.  4,  5).  And  then 
remember  that  even  greater  than  Faith  and  Hope  is  Charity  (i  Cor.  xiii.  13). 

To  exercise  an  intelligent  Christian  confidence,  to  cultivate  a  higher  style  of 
piety  for  pastors  and  people,  and  to  devise  and  execute  liberal  things  for  Christ 
and  his  Church  —  these  are  the  urgent  demands  of  this  jubilant  occasion. 

And  finally,  dear  brethren,  for  this  great  united,  reunited  Presbyterian  Church 
in  these  United  States,  still  opening  her  arms  to  receive  other  members  of  the 
same  noble  family  who  "  have  obtained  like  precious  faith  with  us,"  what  a  stu- 
pendous work  is  set  forth,  which  we  may  enter  upon  and  achieve  !  Our  own  land 
is  pleading  for  our  united  and  aggressive  action.  Moral  elements,  good  and  bad, 
are  seeking  their  affinities.  Unevangelized  masses,  in  our  teeming  cities  and  on 
our  wide  frontiers,  are  retaliating  upon  our  neglect  of  them,  by  claiming  licensa 


756  PllESBYTEPJAN    CIIUKCH. 

under  the  name  of  liberty,  and  threatening  our  free  institutions.  Meanwhile  the 
ends  of  the  earth  are  marvellously  brought  together,  as  if  in  eager  waiting  to  see 
the  salvation  of  our  God.  And  as  if  to  rebuke  the  slo%vress  of  our  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary work,  the  idolatrous  populations  of  Asia  arc  thronging  upon  our  Pacific 
coast.  Is  it  not  high  time  for  us,  as  a  Church,  to  move  in  solid  phalanx  upon  the 
enemy's  works?  Can  we  afford  longer  to  divide  our  forces  and  weaken  our  de- 
fences, by  working  apart  ?  And  shall  not  tils  Church,  to  whom  God  has  com- 
mitted, as  we  believe,  a  special  deposit  of  his  truth,  gird  herself  anew,  at  this 
loving  impulse,  to  disseminate  this  truth  in  all  lands  and  languages?  In  such  a 
day  of  his  power,  shall  not  hi  i  people  be  vnlling  {free-will  offerings.  Psalm  ex. 
3),  as  when  the  people  of  Israel  "brought  the  Lord's  offering  to  the  work  of  the 
tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  men  and  women,  as  many  as  were  willing-hearted, 
and  brought  bracelets,  and  ear-rings,  and  rings,  and  tablets,  all  jewels  of  gold  "  ? 
(Exod.  XXXV.  21,  etc.)  Wealth  that  has  long  been  withheld  will  flow  forth,  as  we 
trust,  in  a  new  consecration,  and  our  excellent  Presbyterian  system  will  be  operated 
with  new  efficiency  in  all  its  departments.  We  fondly  believe  that  not  only  our 
merchant  princes,  but  the  masses  of  our  membership,  touched  by  this  spirit  of 
Revival,  and  hailing  this  new  era  in  the  annals  of  our  Church,  will  bring  forward 
their  munificent  thank-offerings,  to  supply  the  treasuries  of  our  boards  and  com- 
mittees ;  to  endow  and  eq'iip  our  theological  seminaries ;  to  sustain  our  impover- 
ished ministry ;  and  against  all  negative  and  false  Christianity  to  bear  aloft  the 
standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  its  Confession  and  Catechisms,  with  its  free 
government  and  its  simple,  Scriptural  worship  for  the  salvation  of  the  world. 

We  have  only,  in  conclusion,  to  beg  your  observance  of  the  second  Sabbath  in 
September,  recommended  by  both  General  Assemblies  as  "a  day  of  fervent  and 
united  prayer  to  Almighty  God,  that  he  would  grant  unto  us  all  the  spirit  of  coun- 
sel aitd  might,  the  spirit  of  knowledge  and  of  the  fear  of  the  Lord,"  and  that  he 
would  enable  us,  in  the  new  relations  now  contemplated,  "  to  keep  the  imity  of 
the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace." 

"  Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem.     They  shall  prosper  that  love  thee." 

"  Now  the  God  of  patience  and  consolation  grant  you  to  be  like-minded  one 

toward  another,  according  to  Christ  Jesus  ;  that  ye  may,  with  one  mind  and  one 

mouth,  glorify  God,  even  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     Wherefore 

RECEIVE  YE  ONE  ANOTHER,  AS  CHRIST  ALSO  RECEIVED  US,  TO  THE  GLORY   OP 

God  "  (Rom.  xv.  5-7). 

Signed  by  the  yoint  Committee. 

M.  W.  Jacobus,  P.  H,  Fowler, 

Moderator,  O.  S.  Moderator,  N.  S. 

G.  W.  MusGRAVE,  Wm.  Adams, 

A.  G.  Hall,  J.  F.  Stearns, 

Lyman  H.  Atwater,  R.  W.  Patterson, 

Willis  Lord,  S.  W.  Fisher, 


EXPLANATORY    AND     STATISTICAL.  757 

H.  R.  Wilson,  Jas.  B.  Shaw, 

Mittisters.  Ministers. 

Henry  Day,  W.  Strong. 

Robert  Carter,  Daniel  Haines, 

Chas.  D.  Drake,  Wm.  E.  Dodge, 

WiM.  M.  Francis,  J-  S.  Farrand, 

JNO.  C.  Grier,  Jno.  L.  Knight, 

Elders.  ^^'i'^'- 

6.     RESOLUTIONS     WITH     REFERENCE     TO     OTHER    PRESBY- 
TERIAN  BODIES.     Referred  to  on  page  547- 

Resolutions  passed  by  the  General  Assembly  (N.  S.),   Pittsburg,   November, 

1869:  „      , 

Resolved,  That,  rejoicing  in  the  immediate  Reunion  of  the  two  Presbyterian 
Bodies  so  long  separated,  we  would  gladly  haU  a  Pam- Presbyterian  Union,  em- 
bracing all  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  family  holding  to  the  same  Confession  of 
Faith  and  Form  of  Government. 

Resolved,  Tliat  all  uniting  with  us  may  freely  enjoy  the  privilege  of  using  such 
sonas  of  praise  to  Almighty  God  as  their  consciences  may  dictate,  as  mdeed  is 
already  allowed  to  and  variously  enjoyed  in  and  by  the  several  congregations  now 
in  our  communion. 

The  Old  School  Assembly  adopted  the  former  of  the  above. 

,    REPORT  OF   THE  COMMITTEE  OF  CONFERENCE  WITH  THE 

''       AMERICAN    B.    C.    F.    M.,   APPOINTED    BY    THE   GENERAL 

ASSEMBLY,  NEW  SCHOOL,  1S69,  including  the  action  of  the 

PRUDENTIAL  COMMITTEE  OF  THE  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  REFERRED  TO  ON 
PAGE  615. 
The  General  Assembly,  convened  in  the  Tliird  Presbyterian  Church,  Pittsburg 
Pa  ,  in  the  month  of  November,  1869,  anticipating  the  formation  of  a  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  for  the  united  Church,  appointed  a  Co-ittee  consisting  o  the 
Minivers,  J.  F.  Stearns,  Robert  W.  Patterson,  and  R.  R.  Booth,  and  the  Elde  s, 
Robert  S.  Williams  and  William  E.  Landen,  «« to  take  into  consideration  our  rda 
tions  to  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreigi.  Missions,  and  rep  rt^ 
the  next  Assembly  such  measures  as  to  them  may  seem  proper  and  ^expedient, 
the  adjustment  of  those  relations  to  the  new  posture  of  ""^  ^fTairs. 

This  Committee,  having  attended  to  the  duty  assigned  them,  as  far  as  their  cir 
cumstances  would  permit,  now  beg  leave  to  present  their  Report  = 

The     lations  between  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presl^terian  Chu.^  an 
the  American  Boardof  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  have  been  from  the 


758  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

beginning  intimate  and  fraternal.  The  Board,  immediately  after  its  organization, 
submitted  to  the  Assembly  "  the  expediency  of  forming  an  institution  similar  to 
this,  between  which  and  us  there  may  be  such  a  co-operation  as  shall  promote  the 
great  object  of  missions  among  unevangelized  nations."  As  the  Assembly  declined 
the  proposal,  preferring,  for  reasons  assigned,  to  have  for  the  present  no  separate 
organization  for  that  object,  the  original  corporators  of  the  Board,  who  were  all 
of  the  Congi-egational  denomination,  elected  into  their  body,  at  the  first  meeting 
after  their  incorporation,  "  eight  of  the  more  distinguished  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,"  among  whom  we  recognize  with  interest  such  names  as  Samuel 
Miller,  Eliphalet  Nott,  Elias  Boudinot,  James  Richards,  and  Ashbel  Green. 

"  The  amalgamation  of  the  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society  with  the  Board, 
in  1825,  gave  occasion  for  a  formal  and  emphatic  recognition  of  the  Board  by  the 
General  Assembly."  This  Society  had  been  formed,  in  the  year  1817,  by  a  Joint 
Committee  of  the  General  Assembly  and  the  General  Synods  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  and  Associate  Reformed  Churches.  The  Assembly,  in  1826,  formally  rati- 
fied the  engagements  which  had  been  made  by  the  two  missionary  bodies,  and,  in 
accordance  therewith,  recommended  thd  Board  to  "the  favorable  notice  and 
Christian  support  of  the  Church  and  people  under  its  care." 

The  relations  thus  established  remained  undisturbed  till  about  the  time  of  our 
disruption  ;  after  which  the  Old  School  Assembly  had  its  own  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions,  while  the  New  School  Assembly  continued  as  before  to  maintain  its  con- 
nection with  the  American  Board. 

During  the  whole  period  of  more  than  thirty  years  that  followed  that  event,  the 
relations  of  the  two  last-named  bodies  have  been  eminently  satisfactory.  The 
Board  has  always  received  the  communications  of  the  Assembly  with  fraternal 
courtesy,  and  shown  a  ready  disposition,  as  far  as  practicable,  to  comply  with  its 
wishes  ;  and  the  Assembly,  in  a  corresponding  spirit,  has  received  from  time  to 
time  the  delegations  of  the  Board,  and  commended  that  institution  to  the  confi- 
dence and  co-operation  of  the  churches. 

In  the  year  1859,  the  Assembly,  desirous  of  coming  into  closer  connection  with 
its  missionaries  on  the  foreign  field,  and  of  securing  there  a  fuller  proportional  de- 
velopment of  our  ecclesiastical  polity,  so  far  as  might  be  consistent  with  other  in- 
terests, appointed  a  Committee  of  Conference  to  attend  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Board,  and  lay  before  it  the  following  proposition,  viz.,  "  The  Assembly  desires: 

'•  I.  That  it  should  be  distinctly  understood  here  and  abroad,  that  the  Board, 
its  Prudential  Committee  and  officers,  interpose  no  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the 
formation  of  Foreign  Presbyteries. 

"  2.  That  the  appointments  of  missionaries  should  be  so  disposed,  wherever  it 
is  wise  and  practicable,  as  to  facilitate  the  formation  of  such  Presbyteries. 

"  3.  That  there  should  be  a  free  correspondence  of  our  missionaries  with  the 
Permanent  Committee  of  the  General  Assembly." 

To  all  these  propositions,  after  full  examination  by  a  Committee,  and  free  dis- 
cussion in  the  open  meeting  of  the  whole  body,  the  Boaid  gave  an  affirmative 
answer.     During  the  ten  years  that  have  since  elapsed,  the  Assembly,  has  relied 


EXPLANATOEY   AXD     STATISTICAL.  7;") 9 

upon  the  engagements  contained  in  them  with  unquestioned  confidence  ;  and,  if 
less  of  fruits  have  resulted  from  them  than  was  at  first  exjjected,  it  has  been,  we 
have  reason  to  believe,  because  such  results  could  not  well  be  secured  in  existing 
circumstances. 

We  now  come  to  the  "new  posture  of  our  affairs"  contemplated  by  the  Assem- 
bly in  the  appointment  of  this  Committee. 

The  Committee,  having  carefully  considered  the  whole  subject,  are  clearly  of  the 
opinion  : 

That  the  time  has  come  when  an  effort  should  be  made,  as  far  as  may  be  con- 
sistent with  the  fullest  liberty  of  individual  contributors  and  churches,  to  concen- 
trate the  counsels,  the  energies,  and  the  contributions  of  the  whole  united  Church 
in  the  work  about  to  be  carried  on  by  our  Foreign  Missionary  Board.  Reluctant 
as  we  are  to  sever  the  bonds  which  have  so  long  and  happily  subsisted,  the  Com- 
mittee are  confident  that  nothing  would  be  gained,  and  much  may  be  lost,  to  the 
common  cause  by  unnecessary  delay.  In  pursuance  of  this  conviction,  at  a  meet- 
ing held  in  the  chapel  of  Mercer  Street  Church,  New  York,  March  19th,  1870  — 
Present,  Ministers,  J.  F.  Stearns,  R.  W.  Patterson,  and  R.  R.  Booth  ;  Absent, 
Elders  R.  S.  Williams  and  R.  E.  Landen  —  after  prayer  and  free  discussion  on  the 
subject  referred  to  them,  the  Committee  resolved : 

"i.  That,  in  the  judgment  of  this  Committee,  it  is  desirable  and  important 
that  a  fair  proportion  of  the  Missions  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  should  be  transferred 
to  the  Board  of  the  united  Presbyterian  Church. 

"  2.  That  in  order  to  a  harmonious  and  satisfactory  transfer  of  any  portion  of 
these  missions  to  the  Board  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
leave  the  missionaries,  now  connected  with  such  missions,  at  liberty  to  retain  their 
present  ecclesiastical  relations,  in  case  they  should  prefer  to  do  so. 

•'  This  liberty  should  be  accorded  to  the  Congregational  missionaries  who  may 
be  and  continue  in  such  missions ;  and  also,  in  case  of  the  formation  of  Presby- 
teries on  the  foreign  field,  to  such  Presbyterian  missionaries  as  may  prefer  to  re- 
main members  of  the  Presbyteries  in  this  country  to  which  they  now  belong. 

"  3.  That  it  should  be  fully  understood  by  all  parties,  that  the  same  liberty  thus 
provided  for,  in  the  case  of  Congregational  missionaries  to  be  transferred  to  the 
Assembly's  Board,  should  be  granted  by  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  to  such  Presbyterian 
missionaries  as  may  still  continue  with  the  missions  of  that  Board." 

The  first  of  these  resolutions  was  deemed  essential,  in  justice  to  ourselves  and 
the  Board,  as  well  as  for  the  most  successful  prosecution  of  our  future  missionary 
work.  With  so  many  missionaries  in  the  field,  and  so  large  a  work  begun  in  com- 
mon, with  the  expectation  of  our  continued  co-operation,  we  could  not,  in  all  fair- 
ness, withdraw  our  contributions  without  taking  with  us  a  corresponding  part  of  tlie 
responsibilities  of  the  work.  On  the  other  hand,  after  having  contributed  largely 
in  men  and  money  to  the  building  up  of  this  great  missionary  enterprise,  and, 
during  a  period  of  thirty  years,  assisted  to  carry  it  forward  to  its  present  advanced 
position,  it  would  be  manifestly  unreasonable  that  we  should  go  out  empty-handed, 
leaving  behind  all  the  results  of  the  past  and  the  accumulated  facilities  for  the 


760  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

future.  Indeed,  it  would  be  quite  impossible  for  us  to  carry  with  us  into  the  new 
organization  our  churches  and  individual  contributors,  if  in  making  the  change 
they  must  give  up  their  whole  present  working  force,  and  separate  themselves  from 
the  beloved  missionaries,  the  precious  sons  and  daughters  of  the  Church, 

The  other  two  resolutions  were  deemed  im'portant,  as  an  assurance  to  the  mis- 
sionaries that,  in  changing  their  external  relations  from  one  Board  to  another,  they 
will  not  be  required  suddenly  to  change  their  missioiiary  policy,  of  which,  from 
long  experience  in  their  particular  fields,  they  must,  in  many  cases,  be  the  best 
judges ;  nor  to  sacrifice  their  ecclesiastical  preferences,  or  break  their  present  eccle- 
siastical connections.  Were  this  required,  some,  it  is  to  be  feared,  who  would 
otherwise  gladly  cast  in  their  lot  with  us,  would  think  it  wisest  to  remain  as  they 
aj-e. 

In  respect  to  two  at  least  of  the  points  involved  in  the  foregoing  resolutions,  we 
are  happy  to  say  that  we  have  the  concurrence  of  the  Joint  Committee  of  the  two 
Assemblies  on  Foreign  Missions,  as  will  appear,  from  the  following  extract  from 
their  minutes  furnished  to  us,  and  of  which  the  former  was  read  by  us  to  the  Pru- 
dential Committee  previous  to  their  action  : 

^*  Resolved,  That  the  Joint  Committee  desire  that  our  Church,  through  its  reor- 
ganized Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  shall  be  imderstood  as  ready  to  assume  a 
portion  of  the  existing  Foreign  Missionary  work  now  conducted  by  the  A.  B.  C. 
F.  M.,  proportionate  to  the  contemplated  transfer  of  resources  under  the  new 
ecclesiastical  arrangement,  the  most  careful  regard  being  had  to  the  interests  and 
efficiency  of  the  existing  missions,  and  to  the  feelings  of  the  missionaries. 

.^^ Resolved,  That  this  Committee  recommend  to  the  General  Assembly  the  pass- 
age of  the  following  resolution  : 

"Resolved,  That  the  Assembly  hears  with  satisfaction  that  there  is  a  good 
prospect  of  the  transfer  of  a  certain  portion  of  the  Foreign  Missions,  now  under 
the  care  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M. ,  to  the  Board  of  the  General  Assembly  ;  and  that,  in 
view  of  the  transitional  and  exceptional  nature  of  the  contemplated  arrangements, 
the  Assembly  would  leave  a  liberal  discretionary  power  to  the  Board,  and  to  the  mis- 
sionaries who  are  to  be  received,  in  reference  to  their  policy  and  ecclesiastical  re- 
lations." 

With  these  views,  the  Committee  adjourned,  to  meet  at  Boston,  May  loth  ; 
and  arrangements  having  been  made  for  a  Conference  with  the  Prudential  Com- 
mittee of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  met  at  the  Missionary  House  —  Present:  Ministers, 
J.  F.  Stearns  and  R.  R.  Booth,  and  Elder,  R.  S.  Williams  —  and  were  cordially 
received  by  that  body.  The  object  of  the  interview  was  to  explain  the  views  of 
the  Committee  of  the  Assembly,  ascertain  those  of  the  Prudential  Committee,  and, 
more  especially,  to  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  latter  in  determiiaing  and  carry- 
ing into  effect  the  changes  that  are  desirable.  After  a  full  and  free  discussion  of 
the  points  involved,  in  which  the  Assembly's  Committee  disclaimed  all  desire  to  in- 
terfere in  the  slightest  degree  with  the  judgment  and  preferences  of  the  missionaries, 
or  to  pursue  any  claims  on  the  part  of  those  whom  they  represented,  to  the  detri- 
ment of  any  of  the  missions,  or  the  hindrance  in  any  respect  of  the  common  cause, 


E.XPL ANATOMY    AND     STATISTICAL.  761 

the  Prudential  Committee  adopted,  as  the  expression  of  their  views  and  intentions, 
the  following  paper,  which  is  herewith  submitted  to  the  Assembly : 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  Prudential  Committee  of  the  American  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners for  Foreign  Missiofis,  held  at  the  Missionary  House,  Boston,  May  17th, 
1870,  the  action  set  forth  in  the  following  minute  was  duly  taken,  to  wit : 

•'  '  The  Prudential  Committee  have  heard  with  pleasure  the  statements  and  sug- 
gestions of  Dr.  Stearns,  Dr.  Booth,  and  R.  S.  Williams,  Esq.,  a  Committee  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  (N.S.),  appointed  at  Pitts- 
burg, November  nth,  1S69,  to  take  into  consideration  its  relations  to  the  A.  15. 
C.  F.  M.,' and  "report  to  the  next  Assembly  such  measures  as  to  them  may  seem 
proper  and  expedient  for  the  adjustment  of  those  relations  to  the  new  posture  of 
affairs;  "  and,  in  response  thereto,  they  adopt  the  following  resolutions  : 

1.  "  '  Resolved,  That  the  thankful  acknowledgments  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  are 
due  to  the  Presbyterian  churches  for  their  cordial  and  unwavering  co-operation 
during  a  long  series  of  years,  whereby  our  resources  at  home  and  our  efforts  abroad 
have  been  greatly  enlarged. 

2.  "  *  Resolved,  That  while  we  are  unable  to  anticipate,  witliout  regret,  tlie 
withdrawal  of  friends  who  have  been  so  steadfast  and  helpful,  we  sincerely  rejoice 
in  the  conviction  that,  by  reason  thereof,  the  work  which  the  American  churches 
are  doing  in  heathen  lands  is  to  receive  at  once  a  new  impulse,  and  to  yield  in 
coming  years  a  more  abundant  harvest. 

3.  "  ^Resolved,  That  the  Prudential  Committee  gratefully  recognize  the  gener- 
ous confidence  which  these  friends  have  reposed  in  them,  as  the  Directors  ad  iu- 
terim  of  the  affairs  of  the  Board,  thereby  enabling  them  to  consider  the  questions 
which  have  come  before  them,  irrespective  of  their  denominational  bearings,  and 
simply  as  missionary  problems. 

4.  "  'Resolved,  That  we  cheerfully  concede  the  right  of  the  missionaries  to  take 
a  release  from  their  connection  with  us,  upon  their  personal  application,  and  to 
seek  a  connection  with  the  Presbyterian  Board ;  not  that  the  organization  whicli 
we  represent  is  unwilling  or  unable  to  support  them  in  case  they  choose  to  remain 
with  us,  but  m  order  to  leave  them  uninfluenced  in  their  choice ;  with  the  under- 
standing that  their  privileges  as  ministers  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  are  to  be  fully 
recognized  as  heretofore. 

5.  '''Resolved,  That  we  will  cheerfully  co-operate  with  the  Committee  of  the 
General  Assembly,  in  arrangmg  for  the  withdrawal  of  such  a  proportion  of  the 
missionaries  connected  with  us  as  will  satisfactorily  represent  the  interest  of  tliat 
part  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  which  has  hitherto  acted  with  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  RL 
in  the  prosecution  of  our  common  enterprise,  so  far  as  it  can  be  done  without  in- 
juring the  work  in  any  field,  or  interfering  with  the  preferences  of  any  of  tlic  mis- 
sionaries. 

6.  '"'Resolved,  That,  in  case  all  the  missionaries  in  any  field  shall  come  undci 
the  care  of  the  Presbyterian  Board,  the  Prudential  Committee  will  convey  thereto 
the  property  heretofore  in  the  occupancy  of  such  missionaries,  and  will  discontinue 
their  endeavors  in  such  field. 


762  PEESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

7.  "^Resolved,  That,  in  case  a  part  of  the  missionaries  in  any  held  shall  widi 
to  transfer  their  relations  to  the  Presbyterian  Board,  without  desiring  a  change  of 
location,  while  a  part  shall  wish  to  remain  in  their  present  relation  and  their  pres- 
ent work,  It  will  be  the  aim  of  the  Prudential  Committee  to  adjust  the  various 
questions  which  may  arise,  with  sole  reference  to  the  highest  interests  of  the  mis- 
sionary enterprise. 

8.  "  '■Resolved,  That  the  Prudential  Committee  avail  themselves  of  this  occasion 
to  say,  that  they  have  never  recognized  any  distinctions  among  their  brethren  in 
the  foreign  service,  but  have  felt  for  all  the  same  affection,  and  have  reposed  in  all 
tlie  same  confidence  ;  and  that  they  shall  part  from  those  who  may  desire  a 
release  with  profound  regret,  and  with  earnest  supplications  that  the  blessing  of 
Him  who  is  "  Head  over  all  things  to  the  Church"  may  be  vouchsafed  to  them 
more  and  more. 

9.  '*  'Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  this  minute  be  sent  to  all  the  missions  of  the 
A.  B.  C.  F.  M.'" 

Thus  far  the  Committee  have  had  no  correspondence  with  any  of  the  mission- 
aries on  the  foreign  field,  and  are  not  able  to  state  their  views.  Considerations  of 
propriety  and  delicacy  seemed  to  require  that  no  such  correspondence  should  be  in- 
stituted till  the  views  of  the  Prudential  Committee  should  have  been  ascertained  ; 
and  this  object,  owing  to  unavoidable  circumstances,  could  not  be  effected  till  near 
the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly.  They  can  easily  suppose  that 
obstacles  may  arise  in  this  or  that  mission,  which  otherwise  might  be  expected  to 
become  connected  with  the  Assembly's  Board,  making  the  transfer  difficult,  if  not 
for  the  present  impracticable.  Nor  are  they  able  to  judge,  until  after  a  closer  ex- 
amination, what  portions  of  the  missionary  field  can,  or  ought,  in  all  fairness  and 
Christian  prudence,  to  be  so  transferred.  The  contributions  of  that  part  of  the 
Church,  hitherto  connected  vrith  the  American  Board,  have  been  for  the  last  ten 
years  about  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  per  year,  and  the  number  of  Presby- 
terian missionaries  employed  about  fifty,  besides  missionary  assistants.  It  can 
hardly  be  supposed  that  all  these  missionary  brethren  and  sisters,  or  this  full  pro- 
portion of  the  missions  established,  can  be  withdrawn  consistently  with  the  princi- 
ples by  which,  as  we  are  all  agreed,  this  transaction  should  be  governed.  The 
work  of  the  Board  has  been  sustained  in  common  by  the  two  sister  denominations 
composing  its  membership.  The  funds  of  both  have  gone  into  the  same  treasury, 
and  been  expended  in  the  same  fields.  The  missionaries  have  been  assigned  to 
their  respective  places,  with  reference 'chiefly  to  their  fitness  for  the  worlc  required 
or  the  needs  of  the  missions  ;  and,  while  retaining  eacli  his  own  ecclesiastical  rela- 
tions and  preferences,  have  labored  side  by  side  in  loving  brotherhood.  The  Pres- 
byterian missionaries,  being  a  minority  of  the  whole  force,  will  perhaps  be  found  in 
the  minority  on  most  of  the  fields,  and  it  may  not  be  easy  to  separate  them. 

Still  it  is  confidently  believed,  that,  with  such  disposition,  as  we  may  expect  to 
find  on  the  part  of  our  missionary  brethren,  to  make  any  sacrifices  consistent  with 
hi.i^her  claims,  for  the  sake  of  completing  and  giving  strength  and  efficiency  for  the 
work  of  Clui  it  to  our  happy  reunion,  and  especially  witli  the  co-operation  cheerfully 


EXPLANATORY    AND     STATISTICAL.  7(33 

promised  to  the  Committee  of  the  Assembly  by  the  Prudential  Committee  in  their 
fifth  resolution,  such  a  proportion  as  will  on  the  whole  "  satisfactorily  represent  the 
interest  of  that  part  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  which  has  hitherto  co-operated  with 
the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  in  the  prosecution  of  the  common  enterprise,"  may  be,  with 
the  concurrence  of  all  parties,  withdrawn  and  transferred.  Indeed,  we  are 
assured,  by  some  well  entitled  to  express  an  opinion,  that  several  of  the  missions, 
among  which  are  one  or  two  of  the  choicest  and  most  valuable  fields  in  the  whole 
missionary  domain,  are  already  predisposed  to  the  transfer,  and  may,  with  pru- 
dence and  the  manifestation  of  a  liberal  spirit  on  our  part,  be  soon  gathered  under 
the  new  banner  of  the  reunited  Presbyterian  Church. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that,  to  most  of  us,  who  have  so  long  been  accustomed  to 
identify  almost  the  American  Board  with  the  cause  of  missions  itself,  with  whom 
the  very  name  of  that  Board  has  been  a  name  of  honor  and  household  affection 
from  our  infancy,  the  sundering  of  the  sacred  tie  will  be  a  painful  process.  Indeed 
we  carmot,  while  we  live,  cease  to  honor  and  love  and  pray  for  the  prosperity  of 
that  good  old  mother  of  American  missions  among  the  unevangelized  nations. 
But  why  should  churches,  or  missionaries,  or  individual  members,  at  a  crisis  like 
the  present,  hesitate  to  dissolve  one  sacred  tie  for  the  sake  of  perfecting  another,  to 
which  the  providence  of  God  so  manifestly  and  wonderfully  points  us? 

With  these  views,  the  Committee  would  respectfully  recommend  to  the  Assem 
bly  either  to  continue  them  in  service,  or  appoint  some  other,  as  they  may  see 
fit,  with  instructions  to  pursue  the  negotiations  already  begun,  and,  with  the  con- 
currence of  the  Prudential  Committee,  make  arrangements  for  the  transfer  to  the 
Assembly's  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  now  about  to  be  constituted,  such  portions 
of  the  missions  of  the  American  Board  as,  on  the  principles  which  are  herein  ex- 
Dressed,  may  and  ought  to  be  so  transferred. 

In  conclusion,  they  would  beg  leave  simply  to  remind  the  Assembly,  and  through 
them  the  churches  hitherto  co-operating  with  the  American  Board,  that  the  finan- 
cial year,  for  which  the  Assembly  of  the  New  School  at  Pittsburg,  last  Novem- 
ber, made  provision  for  the  continuance  of  contributions  to  that  Board,  docs  not 

end  till  some  time  in  the  month  of  August  next. 

J.  F.  Stearns,  Cliatrtnan. 

8.  THE  JOINT  COMMITTEE  ON  RECONSTRUCTION  AND  CON- 
SOLIDATION, APPOINTED  NOVEMBER,  1869,  AND  REPORT- 
ING  IN  MAY,  1S70.     Referred  to  on  pages  602,  612. 

[From  the  Report  of  the  Joint  Committee  of  Conference,  1S69.] 

2.  This  Committee  recommends  that  a  Special  Committee  of  five  from  each 
branch  of  the  Church  shaU  be  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the  affairs  of 
each  of  the  Boards  and  Committees  of  both  l.ranches  of  the  Cluircli,  and  to  re- 
commend to  the  Assembly  of  tlie  united  Church,  next  to  be  held,  what  changes  are 
required  in  said  Boards  and  Committees. 

3.  That  each  Assembly  shaU  also  pass  the  following :    Whereas,  it  is  apparent 


764  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

from  the  size  of  the  two  Assemblies  that  some  changes  must  be  made  in  the  pres 
ent  method  of  representation ;  therefore,  Resolved,  That  each  of  the  Assemblies 
of  1S69  shall  appoint  a  Committee  of  five,  to  constitute  a  joint  committee  of  ten, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  prepare  and  propose  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
united  Church  a  proper  adjustment  of  the  boundaries  of  the  Presbyteries  and 
S}'nods,  and  the  ratio  of  representation,  and  any  amendments  of  the  Constitution 
which  they  may  think  necessary  to  secure  eihciency  and  harmony  in  the  administra- 
tion of  the  Church,  so  greatly  enlarged,  and  so  rapidly  extending. 

[From  the  Old  School  Assembly.] 

1.  The  Com7?iittee on  Reconstruction,  to  define  boundaries  of  Presbyteries  and 
Synods,  etc.,  etc.  —  Rev.  G.  W.  Musgrave,  D.D.,  Rev.  Charles  C.  Beatty,  D.D., 
Rev.  Cyrus  Dickson,  D.D.     Ruling  Elders,  Henry  Day  and  W.  M.  Francis. 

2.  On  Foreign  Missions. —  Rev.  John  C.  Lowrie,  D.D.,  Rev.  William  M. 
Paxton,  D.D.,  Rev.  S.  F.  Scovel,  D.D.  Ruling  Elders,  John  B.  Skmner  and 
Martin  Ryerson. 

3.  On  Domestic  Missions. —  Rev.  G.  W.  Musgrave,  D.D..  Rev.  D.  A. 
Cunningham  Rev.  D.  McKinney,  D.D.,  Rev.  J.  T.  Backus,  D.D.,  and  Ruling 
Elder  H.  D.  Gregory. 

4.  On  Publication.— ^ts.  W.  E.  Schenck,  D.D.,  Rev.  W.  P.  Breed,  D.  D., 
Rev.  E.  R.   Craven,  D.D.      Ruling  Elders,  George  Junkin  and  John  T.  Nixon. 

5.  On  Education.—  Rev.  William  Speer,  D.D.,  Rev.  S.  J.  Niccolls,  D.D., 
Rev.  S.  C.  Logan,  Rev.  George   Hill,  D.D.,  and  Riding  Elder  R.  S.  Kennedy. 

6.  On  Church  Extension.—  Rev.  H.  R.  Wilson,  D.D.,  Rev.  A.  A.  E.  Taylor, 
Rev.  Oscar  A.  Hills.     RuVutg  Elders,  J.  C.  Havens  and  Jesse  L.  Williams. 

7.  On  Disabled  Ministers'  Fund.  — Rev.  George  Hale,  D.D.,  Rev.  Alexan- 
der Reed,  D.D.,  Rev.  T.  H.  Skinner,  Jr.,  D.D.  Ruling  Elders,  Robert 
Carter  and  A.  B.  Belknap. 

S.  On  Freedme7t.—  VK&v.  A.  C.  McCleland,  Rev.  E.  E.  Swift,  Rev.  A. 
McLean.     Ruling  Elders,  Jolm  McArthur  and  J.  E.  Brown. 

9.  The  Committee  to  raise  Funds. —  Rev.  Jolm  Hall,  D.D.,  of  New  York, 
Rev.  C.  K.  Imbrie,  D.D.  Ruling  Elders,  Winthrop  S.  Oilman,  Sr.,  Robert 
McKnight,  and  Hovey  K.  Clarke. 

[From  the  New  School  Assembly.] 

1.  On  Recon.struction  : 

Rev.  Samuel  W.  Fisher,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Rev.  Robert  W.  Patterson,  D.D., 
Rev.  Edwin  F.  Hatfield,  D.D.,  Rev.  Conway  P.  Wing,  D.D.,  and  Rev. 
Joseph  F.  Tutlle,  D.D. 

2.  On  Raising  Funds  : 

Hon.  William  E.  Dodge,  Hon.  William  Strong,  Rev.  Jonathan  F.  Stearns, 
D.D.,  Rev.  William  H.  Goodrich,  D.D.,  and  Rev. 'Charles  Hawley,  D.D. 


EXPLANATORY    AND     STATISTICAL.  765 

3.  On  Home  Missions  : 

Rev.   William   Adams,  D.D.,    Rev.    Henry  Kendall,    D.D.,   Rev.    Arthur 
Mitchell,  Hon.  Henry  W.  Williams,  LL.D.,  and  Hon.  Jacob  Farrand. 

4.  On  Foreign  Missions  : 

Rev.  Henry  A.  Nelson,  D.D.,  Rev.  Robert  R.  Booth,  D.D.,  Rev.  Franklin 
A.  Noble,  Hon.  Joseph  Allison,  LL.D.,  and  Mr.  Isaac  Scarritt. 

5.  On  Education  : 

Rev.  James  P.  Wilson,  D.D.,  Rev.  John  G.  Atterbury,  D.D.,  Rev.  Edward 
D.  Morris,  D.D.,  Mr.  Alexander  Whilldin,  and  Mr.  Truman  P.  Handy. 

6.  On  Publication  : 

Rev.  Zephaniah  M.   Humphrey,  D.D.,   Rev.  J.  Glcntworth  Butler,  D.D., 
Rev.  John  W.  Dulles,  Mr.  James  M.  Brawner,  and  Hon.  John  S.  Rjiight. 

7.  On  Church  Erection  : 

Mr.  George  W.  Lane,  Rev.  Frank  F.  Ellinwood,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Cornelius  H 
Taylor,  D.D.,  Mr,  Oliver  H.  Lee,  and  Mr.  Samuel  T.  Bodine. 

8.  On  Ministerial  Relief: 

Rev.  Thomas   J.   Shepherd,  D.D.,   Rev.   Charles   Brown,  Rev.  James   B. 
Shaw,  D.D.,  Hon.  Charles  Noble,  and  Mr.  Robert  W.  Steele. 

9.  On  Freedmen  : 

Rev.    Samuel  M.    Hopkins,  D.D.,  Rev.    Edwin  F.    Hatfield,    D.D.,   Rev. 
Herrick  Jolmson,  D.  D. ,  Mr.  William  Thaw,  and  Mr.  Joseph  VV.  Edwards. 


STATISTICS     OF     THE      CHURCH     FOR     THE     YEAR     ENDING 
MAY,  1870. 

Synods 51 

Presbyteries 259 

Candidates 541 

Licentiates 33^ 

Mmisters 4.23S 

Licensures,  reported 141 

Ordinations,  reported 93 

Installations,  reported 247 

Dissolutions  of  pastoral  relations,  reported 224 

Ministers  received  from  other  bodies,  reported 44 

Ministers  dismissed  to  other  bodies,  reported 16 

M  inisters  deceased 73 

Churches 4.526 

Churches  organized,  so  far  as  reported 133 

Churches  dissolved,  so  far  as  reported 33 

Churches  received  from  other  bodies,  so  far  as  reported 14 


'66  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


Churches  dismissed  to  other  b.^dies,  so  far  as  reported lo 

Added  to  the  churches  on  exam' nation 32,003 

Added  to  the  churclies  on  certih^ite 21,447 

Whole  number  of  communicants 446,561 

Baptisms  of  adults. 10, 122 

Baptisms  of  infants 16,476 

Sabbath-school  membership 448,857 

CONTRIBUTIONS. 

Home  missions,  so  far  as  reported $366,274 

Foreign  missions 328,847 

Education .' 246,898 

Publication 42,040 

Church  erection 210,939 

Ministerial  relief 53)^32 

Freedmen 51,845 

General    Assembly 32,645 

Congi-egational 6,416,165 

Miscellaneous 690,636 

Sum  total $8,440,121 


STATISTICS    OF     THE    SOUTHERN    PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH 
FOR   1869   AND    1870. 

1869.  1870. 

Synods  in  connection  wifh  the  General  Assembly II  11 

Presbyteries 54  55 

Ministers 857  840 

Licentiates 49  53 

Candidates 124  161 

Churches 1,460  l»469 

Licensures 21  16 

Ordinations 18  14 

Installations 36  52 

Pastoral  relations  dissolved. 33  40 

Churches  organized 28  33 

Churches  dissolved 6  14 

Members  added  on  examination 4»47o  5>048 

Members  added  on  certificate 2,710  2,851 

Total  number  of  communicants 79>96i  82,014 

Adults  baptized 1, 160  1.529 

Children  baptized 3.378  3.555 

Children  in  Sabbath  schools  and  Bible  classes. 42,284  47,317 

Amount  contributed  to  sustentation $38,814  $49,002 

Amount  contributed  to  foreign  missions 18,657  23,269 

Amount  contributed  to  education 33, 191  34,209 

Amount  contributed  to  publication 7>900  10,279 

Amount  contributed  for  presbyterial  purposes 10, 115  12,247 

Amount  contributed  for  congregational  purposes 605, 164  676,432 

Amount  contributed  for  miscellaneous  purposes 60,559  66,917 

Whcle  amount  contributed 774,400  872,355 

Churches  not  reporting  number  of  members 215  206 


EXPLANATORY    AND    STATISTICAL.  767 


REPORT 


Committee  on  the  Heidelberg  Catechism. 


Adopted  unanimously  by  the  Gexerai-  Assembly  of  1870.     Referred 

TO    ox    PAGE   634. 

To  the  Moderator  and  members  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America  : 

Your  Committee  respectfully  reports  : 

The  paper  placed  in  its  hands  is  in  the  following  words  : 

"  Whereas,  The  Heidelberg  Catechism  unquestionably  states  and  defends  the 
doctrines  of  God's  word,  held  by  our  own  in  common  with  the  other  Reformed 
Churches,  and  inasmuch  as  the  Reformed  (late  Dutch)  Church  has  by  an  act  of  its 
General  Synod  formally  placed  the  Shorter  Catechism  of  the  Westminster  Assem- 
bly by  the  side  of  this,  its  own  Standard,  allowing  its  churches  to  make  use  ot 
either  one  at  their  option  ;  therefore 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Assembly  is  of  opinion  that  if  any  churches  desire  to  em- 
ploy the  Heidelberg  Catechism  in  the  instruction  of  their  children,  such  usage  may 
be  permitted." 

The  Heidelberg  Catechism  takes  its  name  from  the  University  and  city  where  it 
originated.  It  possesses  an  honorable  position  among  those  standards  that  have 
been  approved  of  God  as  mighty  aids  in  the  reformation  and  advancement  of  His 
Church. 

Heidelberg,  a  city  of  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden,  in  the  circle  of  the  Lower 
Rliine,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Neckar,  is  the  seat  of  a  University,  which  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  Germany,  founded  by  Rupert  I.  in  the  fourteenth  century.  In 
this  University,  Zacharius  Ursinus,  who  was  educated  at  Wittemberg,  under  Mel- 
ancthon,  became  professor  of  philosophy  and  theology  in  1560.  He  was  so  much 
allied  to  Calvin  in  his  Scriptural  views  upon  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  that 
he  was  called  "the  Sacramentarian."  This  learned  theologian  was  appointed  by 
the  pious  Frederick  HI.,  Elector  Palatine,  to  compose  a  Catechism  which  should 
exhibit  the  doctrines  of  Calvin,  whose  followers  that  prince  welcomed  to  his  do 
minions,  and  recommended  as  religious  teachers. 

In   order  of  time  this  Catechism  followed  Calvin's,  and  it  preceded  that  of  tlie 


768  PKESBYTERIAN    CIIUKCII. 

Westminster  Divines  by  eighty-five  years.  Luther's  celebrated  Catechism  was 
sent  forth  in  1529,  Calvin's  in  1536,  the  Heidelberg  Catechism  in  1563,  0:1  the 
Itasis  of  which  the  Zurich  Catechism  was  drawn  up  in  1639  for  the  Reformed 
Churcli  of  Germany.  The  catechism  of  the  English  Church,  generally  ascribed 
to  the  authorship  of  Cranmer,  with  the  exception  of  the  part  relating  to  the  sac- 
raments, afterwards  added  by  Overall,  belongs  to  the  year  1549,  whilst  the  West- 
minster Larger  and  Shorter  Catechisms  were  sent  to  the  House  of  Commons,  the 
former  in  1647,  and  the  latter  in  1648. 

In  preparing  the  Heidelberg  Catechism,  Ursinus  was  ably  assisted  by  Caspar 
Olevianus.  This  godly  man  and  sound  theologian  had  been  a  disciple  of  Calvin, 
and  adopted  and  advocated  his  views  in  favor  of  a  Presbyterian  form  of  church 
government  as  based  upon  the  teachuigs  of  Holy  Scripture.  Beginning  life  as  a 
student  of  the  science  of  law,  he  became  a  teacher,  and,  while  yet  a  layman, 
delivered  an  earnest,  evangelical  sermon  on  justification  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ. 
In  1561  he  was  appointed  court  preacher  and  professor  of  theology  at  Heidelberg. 

The  Heidelberg  Catechism,  composed  thus  by  the  direction  of  a  pious  prince,  has 
been  styled  "  the  flower  and  the  fruit  of  the  German  Reformation."  It  is  plaui, 
spiritual,  adapted  to  the  comprehension  of  the  unlearned,  and  throughout  experi- 
mental. In  its  form  it  is  subjective,  making  the  individual  who  repeats  its  answers 
to  say  continually,  "I,"  and  "me,"  and  "we,"  and  "us."  As  Dr.  Chalmers  in 
his  "  Institutes  of  Theology  "  admirably  divides  the  whole  subject-matter  of  Chris- 
tianity into  "  The  Disease,"  and  "The  Remedy,"  so  does  this  standard  begin  with 
the  "  Misery  of  Man,"  and  having  explained  and  illustrated  this  misery,  proceeds 
to  set  before  its  learners  in  all  their  beauty  and  preciousness  the  gospel  provisions 
for  "Man's  Deliverance."  It  teaches  clearly  the  sovereignty  of  Almighty  God, 
and  that  He  gathers,  defends,  and  preserves  His  Church  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end  of  the  world.  It  refers  throughout  to  the  particular  redemption  of  those  who 
believe  in  Jesus,  and  who  are  in  common  partakers  of  Him,  and  of  all  His  riches 
and  gifts.  It  insists  upon  the  total  depravity  of  our  fallen  nature,  and  upon  our 
need  to  be  regenerated  by  the  Spirit  of  God ;  while  it  establishes  and  confirms  to 
all  true  believers  in  Christ  the  Scriptural  assurances  that  in  His  manifold  benefits 
their  Omnipotent  Saviour  will  comfort  them,  and  will  abide  with  them  forever. 

The  Heidelberg  Catechism  expounds  the  creed,  it  affirms  and  maintains  the 
doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  it  vindicates  the  divinity  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  it  de- 
fines the  office  and  the  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  it  declares  that  the  believer 
is  justified  only  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  it  renounces  any  dependence  upon  Bap- 
tism or  the  Lord's  Supper  as  in  themselves  saving  ordinances,  and,  while  explain- 
ing and  recommending  the  use  of  preaching  and  of  discipline,  it  enjoins  good 
works  as  exhibitions  of  real  gratitude ;  enforcing  the  authority,  and  enlarging  up- 
on the  requirements  of  the  Decalogue,  it  teaches  also  the  efficacy  of  sincere  suppli- 
cations while  expounding  the  several  petitions  of  the  Lord's  Prayer. 

Such  in  brief  are  some  of  the  many  excellences  of  this  venerable  standard  of 
doctrine  and  compendium  of  Christian  duty,  written  by  Calvinists,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  Calvinist,  and  used  by  Calvinists  in  the  training  and  education  of  Calvin- 


EXPLANATOKY   AND    STATISTICAL.  769 

ists— a  Presbyterian  instrument  in  every  respect,  and  containing  the  marrow  of  the 
Gospel  as  interpreted  by  Presbyterian  divines. 

It  need  not  surprise  us  then,  that  Frederick  III.,  when  before  the  Diet  at  Augs- 
burg, said  with  commendable  zeal,  "  As  for  tliis  Catechism,  it  is  all  taken  from 
the  Bible,  and  it  is  so  well  fortified  with  marginal  proof  texts  that  it  has  not  yet 
been  overthrown,  and  I  have  good  hope  it  never  will  be  in  all  time  to  come.  And 
if  any  one  can  show  it  wrong  from  this  Bible  which  I  now  hold  in  my  hands,  I  am 
ready  to  hear  him,  great  or  small,  friend  or  foe,  and  to  answer  him  from  out  of 
that  Holy  Book."  This  pious  Christian  hero  made  several  changes  in  the  plan  of 
the  Heidelberg  Catechism  with  his  ovni  hand,  and  in  the  second  edition  the 
eightieth  question,  "  What  difference  is  there  between  the  Lord's  Supper  and  the 
Popish  mass  ?  "  was  added  at  his  instance  the  answer  to  which  concludes  with  the 
words,  "so  that  the  mass  at  bottom  is  nothing  else  than  a  denial  of  the  one 
sacrifice  and  sufferings  of  Jesus  Christ."  The  final  phrase  as  it  now  stands  he  after- 
wards appended  when  the  Council  of  Trent  anathematized  those  who  would  not 
acknowledge  the  mass  to  be  of  divine  authority,  and  in  it  he  pronounced  the  same 
*'  an  accursed  idolatry." 

That  the  Heidelberg  Catechism  differs  from  the  Westminster  Catechism  in  va- 
rious ways  as  to  form,  is  not  more  evident  to  the  superficial  glance  than  to  the  pro- 
foundest  search  is  the  fact  that  both  it  and  they  unquestionably  state  and  defend 
the  doctrines  of  God's  word  held  by  our  ovra  in  common  with  the  other  Reformed 
Churches. 

It  is  not  probable  that  any  other  than  the  Westminster  Catechisms  will  ever  be 
received  in  our  Church  as  standards.  They  are  conceded  to  be  an  integral  part  of 
our  very  Constitution.  The  time  and  the  circumstances  of  their  composition,  the 
piety,  learning,  and  skill  of  their  authors,  iheir  comprehensiveness  and  complete- 
ness, with  the  wonderful  compactness  of  their  phraseolog)',  from  which  one  hardly 
dares  to  take,  to  which  one  needs  not  to  add  a  word,  recommend  them  so  entirely 
to  its  ministers,  ruling  elders,  and  people,  that  with  reference  to  them  the  unani- 
mous verdict  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  will  doubtless  be  the  same  in  the  future 
as  in  the  past ; — we  ask  no  better  helpers  among  the  uninspired  productions  of  the 
wise  and  devout  than  these  ever  to  be  admired  and  revered  Catechisms  of  the 
Westminster  Assembly  of  Divines. 

The  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  which  has  inherited  from  its  Holland  origin  the 
love  and  the  use  of  the  Heidelberg  Catechism,  permits  also  by  official  sanction  the 
employment  of  the  Westminster  Catechisms  in  its  Sabbath  schools  and  families. 
Certainly  more  than  one-third  of  its  congregations— according  to  some  more  than 
one-half  of  them,— thus  constantly  use  it.  Naturally  allied  to  our  onnti  in  doctrine, 
and  in  Church  polity,  with  forms  of  prayer  not  unlike  those  current  in  the  Prcsby- 
terian  Churches  of  earlier  days,  while  cherishing  as  a  traditional  trust  the  Heidel- 
berg Catechism  as  the  authorized  formula  of  its  instruction,  the  Reformed  Church  has 
not  failed  also  to  avail  itself  of  the  labors  of  those  divines  who,  without  translation 
from  other  tongues,  ancient  or  modern,  prepared  in  the  Englisli  Language  the 
Westminster  Larger  and  Shorter  Catechisms. 
49 


770  PRESBYTEKIAN    CnURCIT. 

By  a  reference  to  the  Minutes  of  the  General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Protestant 
Dutch  Church  in  America,  for  1839  (see  Minutes,  vol.  v.  p.  261),  we  find 
that  in  the  organization  of  a  Board  for  Sabbath-school  supervision,  the  Synod 
makes  as  to  its  members  this  deliverance  : — "  They  shall  endeavor  to  promote  in- 
struction in  the  schools  in  the  principles  of  divine  truth,  as  they  are  exhibited  in 
the  catechisms  and  other  standards  adopted  by  the  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  and  the  Westminster  Assembly."  This  deliberate  endorsement  of  the 
standards  of  the  Westminster  Assembly  has  the  more  value  as  following  directly  in 
the  line  of  earlier  testimonies  from  the  most  venerated  fathers  of  our  respected 
sister  Church.  Not  to  mention  the  views  of  others  who  might  be  quoted,  the  late 
honored  and  widely-beloved  Dr.  John  H.  Livingston,  often  styled  "The  father  of 
the  Reformed  Dutch  Church"  in  its  present  organization  in  America,  as  free  of 
the  control  of  the  Church  of  Holland,  as  early  as  1783,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Eilardus 
Westerloo,  expressed  his  strong  desire  that  some  genius  equal  to  the  task  might 
arise  to  draw  up  and  press  on  to  success  a  plan  for  uniting  all  the  Reformed 
Churches  in  America  into  one  homogeneous  body.  Although  the  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  such  a  project  seemed  at  that  time  insuperable,  with  his  usual  strong  faith 
and  buoyant  confidence  that  what  ought  to  be  done  by  Christians  can  and  will  be 
done,  he  says  :  *'  I  humbly  apprehend  that  this  will  be  practicable  ;  and  I  yet  hope 
that  I  will  see  it  accomplished."  The  inference  from  this  letter  and  his  other 
published  utterances  upon  a  subject  now  of  so  much  interest  to  our  own  lately  re- 
united church,  is  that  the  first  steps  in  such  a  work  are  to  be  taken  by  the 
churches  in  recommending,  as  far  as  they  accord  with  Holy  Scripture,  each  other's 
symbols. 

Nor  is  the  Reformed  (Dutcli)  Church  the  only  one  that  cherishes  among  its  tra- 
ditions an  affectionate  veneration  for  the  Heidelberg  Catechism.  This  symbol 
also  belongs,  perhaps  by  a  prior  claim,  to  the  Reformed  (late  German  Reformed) 
Church  in  the  United  States.  This  respected  portion  of  the  Lord's  flock — another 
of  that  sisterhood  of  churches,  which  for  more  than  three  centuries  has,  with  ours, 
through  days  of  martyrdom  and  exile,  borne  its  constant  testimony  to  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints,  though  not  speaking,  it  may  be,  as  fully  through  its 
official  channels  in  commendation  of  our  standards  as  the  Reformed  (Dutch) 
Church,  yet  has  not  failed  to  exhibit  its  sympathy  with  their  doctrine  and  order. 
In  this  very  city,  on  the  occasion  of  the  three-hundredth  anniversary  of  the  Heidel- 
berg Catechism,  a  committee  of  a  convention  of  the  highest  judicatories  of  the 
German  Reformed  Church  put  upon  record  its  cordial  admiration  of,  and  esteem 
for,  the  Westminster  Confession  and  Catechisms.  In  this  document  it  declares 
that,  "  The  churches  of  the  Heidelberg  Catechism  and  of  the  Westminster  Confes- 
sion have  good  reason  to  feel  themselves  united  by  bonds  of  no  ordinary  tenderness 
and  strength.  Both  by  their  external  histoiy,  and  by  their  inner  constitution  and 
economy,  are  they  placed  in  close  and  vital  relations  to  each  other.  The  earliest 
bonds  which  united  Heidelberg  and  Westminster  were  wrought  and  cemented  in 
the  heat  of  fiery  trials.  Such  bonds  should  rivet  hearts  closely  and  inseparably 
together." 


■   EXPLANATORY    AND    STATISTICAL.  771 

If  this  utterance,  although  not  coming  to  us  with  the  weight  of  its  ecclesiastical 
sanction  as  a  Synod,  may  yet  be  deemed  to  reflect  the  sentiments  of  the  ministers 
and  members  of  the  (German)  Reformed  Church,  we  may  not  in  connection  with 
this  subject  appropriately  overlook  it. 

And,  in  this  hour  of  our  glad  reunion,  when  the  watchmen  see  eye  to  eye,  and 
the  Lord  brings  again  Zion,  similar  language  is  not  surely  irrelevant  on  our  part  to 
testify  our  respect  and  veneration  for  a  time-honored  symbol  of  faith  and  compen- 
dium of  religious  practice,  dear  to  so  many  Christian  hearts  in  these  kindred  com- 
munions. 

Your  Committee  has  taken  some  pains  by  correspondence  and  personal  inquiry 
to  learn  whether  there  exists  among  us  as  Presbyterians  any  unwillingness  that 
churches.  Sabbath  schools,  or  families  should,  if  desiring  to  use  the  Heidelberg 
Catechism  in  the  task  of  religious  training,  thus  employ  it ;  and  it  can  discover  on 
the  part  of  our  most  trusted  divines,  whether  in  the  office  of  teacher  in  the  schools 
of  the  prophets,  or  in  that  of  pastor  among  those  now  serving  our  congregations, 
but  one  opinion.  And  this  finds  fair  expression  in  the  language  heard  in  the  last 
Assembly,  when  the  subject  was  introduced  to  our  attention,  namely,  to  the  effect 
that  where  any  desire  to  employ  this  Scriptural  formula  of  Christian  doctrine 
and  duty  for  the  purposes  of  godly  instruction,  they  should  be  permitted  to  do  so. 
On  every  hand  your  Committee  has  been  encouraged  to  present  for  your  action 
the  declaration  of  our  full  confidence  in  this  venerable  Catechism.  Suggestions 
have  also  been  made  to  its  members  that  it  would  not  be  inappropriate  also  at  this 
time  to  add  the  Assembly's  endorsement  of  other  symbols  that  derive  their  descent 
from  the  Heidelberg  Catechism,  and  exhibit  with  like  fidelity  the  same  essential 
doctrines  and  duties.  These  are  especially  the  Gallic  Confession  and  the  second 
Helvetic  Confession. 

These  and  others  of  similar  value,  however,  not  being  mentioned  in  the  paper 
put  into  its  hands  by  the  last  Assembly,  your  Committee  has  not  felt  at  liberty  to 
suggest  any  resolutions  with  reference  to  them. 

Your  Committee  cannot  but  be  aware  that  many  indications  exist  to  give  prom- 
ise that  before  many  years  have  passed  by,  other  churches,  closely  bound  to  our  own 
by  common  doctrine,  the  same  ecclesiastical  usages,  and  a  similar  history  of  sacrifi- 
ces and  witness-bearing  in  defence  of  the  simple  truth  of  the  Gospel,  may  desire  to 
unite  more  closely  with  us  or  among  themselves,  in  bonds  that  will  demand  no  con- 
cessions on  either  hand,  while  they  allow  the  continuance  of  the  same  forms  of 
worship  and  plans  of  instruction  that  now  obtain  in  their  respective  communions. 
But  without  comment  upon  such  probable  or  possible  unions,  which  some  well 
read  in  the  signs  of  the  times  predict  to  be  near  at  hand,  it  cannot  surely  do  any 
harm  for  us  as  a  Church  to  say  publicly  in  our  Assembly  what  is  daily  lieard  among 
us  in  our  seminaries  and  pulpits  on  this  subject.  Should,  for  example,  such  an 
honored  body  as  either  of  the  Reformed  Churches  ever  be  found  approving  of  a 
more  organic  union  with  our  own,  it  will  be  a  happy  feature  in  a  compact  so  aus- 
picious that  each  party  to  it  discovers  that  its  highest  judicatory  has  placed  side  by 
side  the  doctrinal  standards  of  both.     All  discussion  as  to  the  respective  claims 


772  PRESBYTERIAW    CHURCH. 

and  value  of  each  of  their  formulas  being  thus  removed,  each  one  of  them  will  be 
brought  to  the  practical  test  of  its  intrinsic  value  for  the  purposes  of  instruction.  ' 
The  one  best  adapted  for  more  common  use  in  schools  and  families  will  be  gener- 
ally so  employed.  While  the  other,  not  less  precious,  nor  less  venerated,  will 
prove  also  its  excellences  under  such  circumstances  of  study  as  can  make  its  em- 
ployment more  conducive  to  spiritual  edification. 

But  should  we  not  live  to  see  such  unions  proposed  or  consummated,  if  in  the 
providence  of  God  they  remain  ever  unsought,  our  beloved  Zion  will  suffer  no  in- 
jury by  placing  upon  its  records  the  simple  statement  of  our  confidence  in  the  sub- 
stantial agreement  of  our  own  with  the  doctrinal  standards  of  our  companions  in 
the  great  conflict  which,  as  fellow-soldiers,  we  are  now  waging  against  evil  under 
the  same  glorious  Captain  of  salvation.  The  enemies  of  the  truth,  whether  they 
look  upon  us  from  the  side  of  a  corrupted  form  of  nominal  Christianity,  or  from 
that  of  rationalism  and  infidelity,  must  mark  our  union  in  one  line  of  battle,  and 
beneath  one  banner,  and  be  shamed  to  silence  in  the  attempt  to  carp  or  cavil  at 
our  supposed  differences  and  divisions. 

Believing,  then,  that  no  possible  evil  can  result  from  placing  upon  our  record  ex- 
pressions of  confidence  in  reference  to  the  standard  of  the  Reformed  Churches  in 
America,  your  Committee  respectfully  recommends  the  following  resolutions  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  this  General  Assembly  recognizes  in  the  Heidelberg  Cate- 
chism a  valuable  Scriptural  compendium  of  Christian  doctrine  and  duty. 

2.  Resolved,  That  if  any  churches  desire  to  employ  the  Heidelberg  Catechism  in 
the  instruction  of  their  children,  they  may  do  so  with  the  approbation  of  this  As- 
sembly. 

3.  Resolved,  That  this  Assembly  cordially  rejoices  at  the  continued  and  increas- 
ing evidences  of  agreement  and  of  union  among  those  whose  symbols  mamtain  in 
common  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints. 

G.  S.  Plumley, 

R.  K.  RODGERS, 

J.  H.  M.  Kno.x, 
A.  B.  Belknap, 
Edward  J.  Fox, 


Comviiitee  from  the  Assembly  of  1S69. 


THE   REV.   SAMUEL    W.    FISHER,  D.D. 

Dr.  Fisher  was  born  in  Morristown,  N.  J.,  April  5th,  1814;  was  fitted  for 
college  at  New  Canaan,  Ct.  ;  was  converted  a  few  weeks  before  he  entered  Yale, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1835  ;  spent  one  year  in  Middletown,  Ct.  ;  two  years 
in  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  and  one  in  Union  Seminary,  New  York.  Be- 
fore leaving  the  seminary  he  was  called  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  West  Bloomfield,  N.  J.,  where  he  spent  three  and  a  half  years. 
He  was  next  three  and  a  half  years  in  the  pastoral  cha-ge  of  the  Fourth  Presby- 
terian  Church,    Albany,   N.   Y.      In     1847   he  became    pastor  of  the  Second 


EXPLAINTATORY    AND    STATISTICAL.  773 

Church  in  Cincinnati,  succeeding  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher.  In  1858  he  was  elected 
to  the  presidency  of  Hamilton  College,  and  held  that  office  until  1S66,  when  he 
became  pastor  of  the  Westminster  Church,  Utlca,  N.  Y.,  in  which  office  he  con- 
tinued until  May  nth,  1870,  when  he  was  stricken  down  with  the  disease  (paraly- 
sis) by  which  he  was  disabled  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  Sabbath  morn- 
ing, January  i8th,  1874.  Dr.  Fisher  was  a  most  godly  Christian,  and  was 
abundantly  useful  in  every  station  which  he  was  called  to  occupy.  His  labors 
as  a  pastor  at  West  Bloomfield,  at  Albany,  at  Cincinnati,  and  at  Utica,  were 
greatly  blessed  of  God  to  the  upbuilding  of  the  congregations  to  which  he  minis- 
tered, and  his  memory  is  gratefully  regarded  by  them.  As  President  of  Hamilton 
College  his  services  were  highly  esteemed,  especially  as  directed  to  bringing  the 
college  into  closer  and  more  advantageous  rel.itions  with  the  churches  of  the  region 
that  surrounds  it.  The  Christian  life  of  Western  New  York  thus  owes  a  large 
debt  of  gratitude  to  the  prayers  and  successful  efforts  of  Dr.  Fisher. 

Dr.  Fisher  was  deeply  interested  in  the  commencement  and  progress  of  the  Re- 
union movement.  From  its  initiation  he  was  its  hearty  and  efficient  friend.  By 
personal  correspondence,  and  by  communications  to  the  religious  press,  he  zealously 
and  judiciously  hastened  it  forward,  and,  when  the  "  Committee  of  Conference  "  was 
appointed,  it  was  deemed  a  graceful  and  deserved  tribute  to  his  acknowledged  abil- 
ity and  services  that  his  name  was  placed  with  its  distinguished  members. 

His  efforts  in  the  labors  of  this  Committee  were  abundant,  and  were  crowned 
with  success.  When  the  Assembly  of  1S69  met  for  the  second  time  at  Pittsburg 
to  consummate  the  Reunion,  Dr.  Fisher  presented  the  paper  in  which  occurs  the 
proposal  of  the  Memorial  Fund  of  Five  Million  Dollars.      [See  page  56S.] 

After  his  paralytic  attack,  Dr.  Fisher  bore  his  heavy  affliction  with  a  cheerful 
Christian  resignation,  and  for  three  years  at  his  residence  at  College  Hill,  Ohio, 
seemed  ripening  for  the  heavenly  home.  On  the  day  preceding  his  death,  Dr. 
Fisher  selected  the  hymn  to  be  sung  at  the  family  worship,  and  joined  in  the  singing 
with  all  the  animation  of  his  days  of  health.  It  was  the  last  song  of  praise  that  he 
sang  on  earth.     It  was  Bonar's  sweet  poem, 

"  Thy  way,  not  mine,  O  Lord, 
However  dark  it  be." 

One  to  whom  Dr.  Fisher  ministered  Christian  consolation  in  her  sorrow  many 
years  ago,  remembers  that  his  cheering  words  to  her  then  were,  "lam  sure tJtat 
the  Sabbath  is  a  very  good  day  to  go  to  Heaven  in."  Surely  it  is  pleasant  to  think 
that  he  has  now  found  it  so. 


774  PEESBTTEKIAK  CnDECH. 


SYNOD    OF    COLORADO. 


The  progress  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  new  and  important  field  is  full 
of  interest.  The  small  seed  out  of  winch  has  grown  a  large  tree,  was  planted 
when  Rev.  Lewis  Hamilton,  the  first  Presbyterian  minister  who  visited  Colo- 
rado, arrived  at  Denver.  He  commenced  preaching  on  Sunday,  June  12th, 
1859.  He  was  followed  by  a  number  of  brethren  who  successfully  labored  on 
this  field.  On  December  15th,  1861,  the  first  Presbyterian  Church,  O.  S.,  was 
organized  ;  and  on  January  ist,  1864,  a  neat  and  commodious  building  was  dedi- 
cated to  the  service  of  God.  Several  ministers  labored  in  turn  on  this  field,  until 
May,  1870,  when  Rev.  W.  Y.  Brown,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  and  with 
a  commission  from  the  Board  of  Home  Missions,  settled  here.  His  efforts  issued 
in  the  dedication  of  a  new  church  building,  which  cost  no  less  than  $12,200,  a  large 
part  of  which  was  paid  by  the  people  of  Denver.  Simultaneously  with  this  impor- 
tant event,  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  was  installed  pastor.  A  church  was  organized  at 
Centra]  City,  by  Rev.  Lewis  Hamilton,  on  January  26th,  1862.  In  February 
and  September  of  the  following  year,  two  churches  were  severally  organized  at 
Black  Hawk  and  Boulder  Valley.  In  November,  186S,  a  portion  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  congregation  at  Denver  was  organized  as  a  Church  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Chicago,  N.  S.,  which  again  in  less  than  two  years  was  received  into  the 
Presbytery  of  Colorado.  Under  the  able  and  faithful  guardiansliip  of  Rev.  Shel- 
don Jackson,  the  illustrious  missionary  superintendent  of  the  West,  a  great  many 
churches  have  been  organized  from  time  to  time,  in  places  of  growing  iniluence. 
These,  as  yet,  represent  small  numbers,  but  with  the  constant  influx  of  popu- 
lation, they  will  undoubtedly  grow  into  large,  flourishing,  and  self-sustaining 
churches.  The  success  of  Mi*.  Jackson  illustrates  the  importance  of  every  Synod 
having  a  Superintendent  of  Home  Missions,  who  will  seize  upon  points  of  promise 
and  organize  and  build  churches  to  meet  thi  wants  of  future  times. 

PAN-PRESBYTERIANISM. 

This  is  almost  a  new  term.  It  is  only  now  making  its  way  into  the  currency  of 
words,  and  the  idea  of  it  is  generally  credited  to  Rev.  Dr.  McCosh,  President  of 
Princeton  College,  N.  J.  Gur  readers,  in  the  course  of  their  perusal  of  this 
work,  must  have  been  frequently  struck  with  the  close  resemblance  between  the 
Presbyterian  Churches  throughout  the  world.  Whether  the  members  of  the  vari- 
ous churches  are  aware  of  it  or  not,  it  is  evident  that  Presbyterians  all  over  the 
globe  are  one — having   "one   Lord,    one   faith,    one  baptism."     And  yet  every 


EXPLANATOKY    AND    STATISTICAL.  775 

separate  Presbyterian  sect  has  its  own  Synods  and  Presbyteries,  and  there  is  no 
common  ground  on  which  the  Presbyterian  Churches  throughout  the  world  can 
meet.  Within  recent  years  the  practice  has  grown  of  the  Presbyterian  Churches 
sending  to  one  another  delegations  carrying  their  fraternal  greetings  and  prayers. 
Much  good  has  sprung  from  this,  especially  in  the  mutual  interest  created  between 
the  Presbyterian  bodies  of  America,  and  those  of  the  mother  country.  These 
deputations  are  becoming  so  numerous,  and  involve  the  consumption  of  so  much 
time  in  the  expression  of  necessary  courtesies,  that  little  good  can  be  obtained 
from  them  in  the  way  of  counsel,  or  in  the  consideration  of  questions  of  Christian 
work,  or  of  Church  polity  or  worship,  which  are  of  universal  interest.  It  is  felt 
that  there  is  room  for  Presbyterian  councils  to  be  held — say  every  three  years — 
in  some  leading  city,  whose  members  would  be  representatives  of  all  the  Presby- 
terian Churches  in  the  world.  And  when  we  consider  the  wonderful  success  of 
the  Conference  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance,  so  recently  held  in  the  City  of  New 
York,  not  to  speak  of  its  powerful  influence  for  good,  we  may  well  be  assured  of 
benefit  and  blessing  flowing  from  such  Presbyterian  Councils,  to  which  we  have 
alluded.  The  day  is  not  far  distant  when  the  idea  will  be  embodied  in  practical 
form. 


The  Presbytery  of  Egypt,  in  connection  with  the  United  Presbyterian  Church, 
transacts  its  business  and  keeps  its  records  in  the  Arabic  language.  At  a  late 
meeting  there  were  present,  as  members  of  Presbytery,  eight  ministers  (six  of 
whom  were  missionaries  and  two  natives),  and  five  native  elders. 


THE  VALLEYS  OF  THE  VAUDOIS.      [Frontispiece.] 

The  well-wrought  wood  engraving  selected  as  the  frontispiece  of  this  volume, 
gives  at  one  comprehensive  glance  a  good  impression  of  the  valleys  of  the  Vaudois, 
often  styled  the  cradle  of  modern  Presbyterians.  Here  the  Vaudois  reared  their 
children,  and  impressed  upon  them  the  teachings  of  pure  and  primitive  Chris- 
tianity. 

MARTYRDOM    OF   A   VAUDOIS.      \OppOS.te  page    I.] 

The  picture  opposite  page  i,  represents  the  martyrdom  of  one  of  the  Vaudois. 
It  is  engraved  from  an  ancient  painting,  and  vividly  exliibits  what  became  in  one 
age  a  frequent  spectacle.  A  pious  and  Bible-reading  servant  of  God  is  exhorted 
to  worship  the  crucifix  and  to  deny  his  Lord.  But  in  vain.  The  shaven  priests 
bid  their  soldiers  and  servants  to  encircle  him  with  fagots,  and  these  once  kindled, 
he  soon  joins  the  noble  army  of  martyrs,  with  Stephen  crying,  "  Lord  Jesus,  re- 
ceive my  spirit." 


776  PRESBYTEEIAN   CHTJECH. 


POPE   PIUS   IV.    WITNESSING   THE  DEATH   OF   PASCHAL.       {Page  21.] 

During  the  papacy  of  Pius  IV. ,  who  was  Pope  in  the  sixteenth  century,  the  re- 
formed religion  became  that  of  the  state  in  Scotland.  The  chiefs  of  the  clans, 
the  doctors  of  the  universities,  and  many  of  the  nobles  and  other  leading  men  of 
the  nation,  met  in  Edinburgh,  and  threw  off  their  allegiance  to  the  Holy  See  of 
Rome,  and  made  public  proclamation  of  their  adhesion  to  the  reformed  faith. 
Pius  IV.  was  accustomed  to  witness  the  tortures  of  many  victims,  who  refused 
obedience  to  his  idolatrous  commands.  An  ancient  engraving  of  which  this  cut  is 
a  copy,  represents  him  thus  engaged  at  the  martyrdom  of  Paschal. 

OLD    GREYFRIARS    CHURCH,  EDINBURGH.       \,Page   57.] 

The  scene  of  the  signing  of  the  solemn  covenant  of  163S,  is  here  represented. 
The  tombstone  on  which  it  was  laid  for  the  signatures  of  the  multitude,  is  seen  in 
the  foreground. 

EMBLEM    OF   THE    WALDENSIAN    CHURCH.       \,Fage   73.] 

This  was  a  favorite  seal  or  design  of  the  Waldensian  Church.  It  represents  a 
lily,  held  down  by  thorns,  which  might  seem  destined  to  crush  it.  It  however 
emerges,  saying,  as  it  were,  "I  come  forth,"  and  flourishes  in  perfect  vigor  and 
beauty. 

SEAL   OF   THE    TRUSTEES    OF   THE    GENERAL    ASSEMBLY.       \_Page    I4S.] 

This  combines  the  cross  with  the  brazen  serpent,  emblems  that  well  represent 
the  mission  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  western  continent.  It  holds  up  the 
cross  that  the  eye  of  faith  may  look,  and  life  come  from  beholding  Christ,  who 
was  lifted  up  as  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilderness. 

SE.-VL   OF   THE    PRESBYTERIAN    BOARD    OF   PUBLICATION.       {Page    25O.J 

This  seal,  familiar  to  all  readers  of  the  excellent  books  published  by  the  Presby- 
terian Board  of  Publication,  has  a  motto  that  well  expresses  the  objects  and  suc- 
cess of  this  Board.  "Let  there  be  light,"  is  what  it  constantly  says,  as  it  sends 
forth  from  its  presses  an  abundance  of  sound  and  Scriptural  literature  to  bless  the 
world. 

MAP   OF     THE    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH     IN    THE    UNITED    STATES    OF   AMERICA. 

This  map  is  sixteen  and  a  half  inches  by  twenty-two  inches  in  size,  and  repre- 
sents all  the  Synods,  Presbyteries,  and  Churches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America.  It  is  reduced,  by  the  photo-engraving  process,  from 
the  large  map  prepared  at  a  considerable  outlay  by  the  Rev.   Dr.    Henry  M. 


EXPLANATORY    AND    STATISTICAL.  777 

Field,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  "New  York  Evangelist."  Dr.  Field  cour- 
teously allowed  the  publishers  of  this  volume  to  avail  themselves  of  this  valuable 
map.  They  have  accordingly  expended  a  large  sum  of  money  to  place  it,  inclosed 
in  a  neat  cover,  in  the  hands  of  every  subscriber  to  "  The  Presbyterian  Church 
througliout  the  World." 

THOMAS  CHALMERS,  D.D.     [Referred  to  071  page  46.] 

Thomas  Chalmers  was  born  at  Anstruther,  Fifesliire,  March  17,  1780.  At 
the  age  of  twelve,  he  was  sent  to  St.  Andrew's  University,  where  he  studied  suc- 
cessfully ethics,  mathematics,  and  political  economy.  Licensed  in  his  nineteenth 
year,  after  pursuing  a  wide  range  of  study  at  Edinburgh,  he  was  ordained  in  1803, 
pastor  of  Kilmany,  in  Fifeshire.  Here  he  mingled,  for  a  time,  scientific  studies 
with  his  ministerial  duties,  but  in  1809  gave  himself  to  his  great  work  of  preaching 
the  Gospel  with  singular  energy  and  success.  In  1815  he  became  pastor  of  a  par- 
ish in  Glasgow,  where  the  effect  produced  by  his  oratory  was  compared  to  that 
which  was  produced  by  the  eloquence  of  Demosthenes.  Here  he  preached  and 
pubiished  his  "  Astronomical  Discourses,"  twenty  thousand  copies  of  which  were 
sold  within  a  year.  His  success  in  his  parish  was  only  equalled  by  his  triumphs  in 
the  lecture  room  as  Professor  of  Moral  Philosophy  at  St.  Andrew's,  and  subse- 
quently as  Professor  of  Theology  at  Eduiburgh  for  fifteen  years.  Prominent  in 
the  debates  that  caused  the  establishment  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland,  he  was 
elected  its  first  Moderator.  He  died,  universally  esteemed  and  lamented,  at  Mom- 
ingside,  near  Edinburgh,  May  31,  1847. 

ROBERT  S.   CANDLISH,  D.D.      [Referred  to  on  page  47.] 

Robert  S.  Candlish  was  brought  up  for  the  ministry  of  the  Established 
Church  of  Scotland.  In  1834  he  was  placed  or  installed  as  a  minister  in  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Kelso.  Thence  he  was  called  to  the  parish  of  St.  George,  Edinburgh. 
While  thus  laboring  and  with  distinguished  success,  the  memorable  discussions 
commenced  that  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland.  Dr. 
Candlish  became  a  leader  in  these  discussions.  In  the  Free  Church  he  at  once  at- 
tained a  high  position,  and  he  is  always  named  as  one  of  its  brightest  ornaments. 
Among  his  most  useful  published  works  may  be  named  the  following  :  "Candlish 
on  the  Atonement,"  "  Contributions  to  the  Exposition  of  the  Book  of  Genesis," 
an  "Examination  of  Maurice's  Theological  Essays,"  and  "Life  in  a  Risen 
Saviour." 

THOMAS  GUTHRIE,  D.D.      [Referred  to  on  page  47.] 

Thomas  Guthrie  was  born  at  Brechin,  July  12th,  1S03.  He  was  sent  when 
four  years  old  to  a  school  kept  by  James  Stewart,  a  man  remarkable  for  his  piety, 
as  well  as  his  amiable  character.  His  college  days  were  spent  at  Edinburgh,  from 
1815  to  1824,  and  he  studied  mathematics  under  Sir  John  Leslie,  and  moral  phil- 


778 


PEESBYTEKIAN    CHURCH. 


sophy  under  the  celebrated  Dr.  Thomas  Brown.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Brechin,  in  1825.  He  spent  several  months  at  Paris  as  a  student,  and 
attending  the  classes  of  Gay-Lussac,  and  other  distinguished  professors,  gained 
considerable  insight  into  the  physical  sciences.  Not  immediately  on  his  return 
obtaining  a  parish,  he  accepted  employment  for  two  busy  years  in  the  bank  agency 
of  David  Guthrie  &  Sons,  in  his  native  town.  A  most  earnest,  diligent,  and 
successful  ministry  followed  at  Arbirlot,  from  1830  to  1837.  In  this  country 
charge,  Dr.  Guthrie  so  trained  his  wonderful  powers  for  pulpit  oratory,  that, 
when  he  was  transferred  in  1837  to  Edinburgh,  he  at  once  took  rank  as  a  re- 
markably original  and  powerful  preacher.  He  succeeded  Dr.  Anderson  as  one  of 
the  ministers  of  the  Old  Greyfriars  Parish.  He  soon  ceased  to  be  a  colleague, 
and  entered  upon  his  life  work  as  a  preacher  to  the  poor  as  well  as  the  rich,  and 
a  constant  laborer  for  tlie  neglected  masses  of  the  great  city  which  was  his  home. 
As  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland,  and  as  one  of  its  most  elo- 
quent and  distinguished  divines.  Dr.  Guthrie  was  kno*vn  throughout  Christen- 
dom. His  recent  death  has  saddened  many  hearts  in  America,  where  it  was  hoped 
that  he  would  be  seen  in  connection  with  the  Conference  of  the  Evangelical 
Alliance. 


W.  riolier,  D.D. 


A.  G.  Hall,  D.D. 


EXPLANATORY    AND     STATISTICAL. 


779 


> 

Scotland 

England 

Ireland 

America,  U.  S.. . . 

Canada 

West  Indies,  etc. . 
Africa,  W.  &  S. . . 

Australasia 

China  and  Japan.. 

India 

Syria 

Belgium 

Holland 

Scandinavia 

Austria 

Italy,  Spain,  etc.  . 

Russia 

Frnnre         . 

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P  P  ^'  -P  ;  ^  p  •  -Pi*     "  1*  ^^  "  P  "  P  J^i^  i^ 
b  o  b  b  i   b  b  •    o  tin  t-n  w  b  o  N  ^  o  -^j  w  "00 

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1 

780 


PRESBYTERIAN    CIIURCIL 


STATISTICS   OF   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCHES   IN  U.   S. 


Churches. 

Synods. 

Pres- 
byteries. 

Churches. 

Ministers. 

Accom- 
modations. 

Members. 

Amount 
contribut- 
ed last  year 

Presbyterian,  Northern. 

Ditto,  Southern 

United  Presbyterian... 
Reformed  Presbyterian. 

Cumberland   Ditto 

(Dutch)  Reformed.    .. 

(German)  Ditto 

Associate  Secession 

Ditto  Reformed 

Synod  of  Missouri 

35 

11 

54 
5 

19 
29 

4.730 
»,545 
755 
136 
820 
481 

214 
72 

I'd 

1,116 

461 

1 

116 
80 

2,565,949 
273,697 

468,164 
91,208 
72,806 
35.000 
oo,coo 

67.123 
128,771 
16,000 

12,000 

§10,086,526 

1,334,264 
69,970 

Total 

60 
421 

320 

10,226 
2,128 

1,365 
49 

8.131 
1,644 

3,050,714 

757,637 
371,899 

977,172 
323.82s 

108,122 

13,443,695 

Kindred  Churches 

Lutheran 

Union. 

Total 

481 

320 

14.369 

10,626 

4,200,566  1  1,414,799 

STATISTICS  OF  CHURCHES   IN  SCOTLAND. 


Churches. 

Synods. 

Pres- 
byteries. 

Churches. 

Ministers. 

Elders. 

Deacons. 

Members. 

Parishes. 

Church  of  Scot- 
land,     (Estab- 
lished.)  

Free  Church. .. 
United  Presby- 
terian Church. 

16 
16 

I 

84 
71 

35 

1,250 

G85 

492 

1,300 
94S 

523 

5,654 
6,500 

4,'S7 

6,500 

403,889 
260,000 

160,630 

1,124 

Total 

33 

180 

2,627. 

2,771 

16,311 

6,500 

832.519 

The  other  churches  in  Scotland  represent  the  difference  between  these  figures  and  those  in  the  Gen- 
eral Table  above  for  Scotland. 


STATISTICS  OF   CHURCHES   IN   CANADA. 


Churches. 

Synods. 

Pres- 
byteries. 

Churches. 

Ministers. 

Elders. 

Deacons.   Member;, 
i 

("anada  Prcs.  Church 

Church  of  Scotland 

Ditto,    Synod     of      Mar- 

atime  Provinces 

Ditto,  Lower  Provinces. . 

17 
6 

346 
140 

37 
130 

300 

1,66s 

2,608 

46    343 

Total 

' 

45                653 

EXPLANATORY    AND    STATISTICAL,  781 


THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN  MEXICO. 


For  more  than  twenty  years  it  has  been  the  policy  of  one  branch  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  to  do  its  work  in  Papal  countries  through  its  own  Mission  Board, 
and  the  General  Assembly  of  185 1  pointed  out  the  importance  of  missionary  effort 
in  Mexico  and  Central  America.  With  the  reunion  came  the  question  whether 
this  should  be  the  policy  of  the  united  Church,  or  whether  it  should  follow  the  ex- 
ample of  the  late  N.  S.  branch  by  working  through  an  outside  voluntary  organization, 
involving  a  heavy  expense  for  collecting  agencies.  It  was  plain  that  both  methods 
could  not  long  be  pursued  together.  The  solution  of  this  question  was  precipitated 
in  the  spring  of  1871  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  Congregational  churches  from  the 
American  and  Foreign  Christian  Union.  It  was  now  felt  by  all  other  denomina- 
tions supporting  that  Union,  that  the  time  was  near  when  they  would  be  compelled 
to  do  missionary  work  in  Papal  lands  through  their  own  Boards,  and  accordingly 
the  General  Assembly,  which  met  about  that  time  in  Chicago,  reiterated  the  recom- 
mendation that  the  Board  turn  its  attention  to  the  Papal  countries  of  our  o\vn  con- 
tinent. To  this  action  the  Board  responded  by  a  circular,  issued  in  the  following 
autumn,  declaring  its  intention  to  enter  Mexico  and  the  other  countries  named,  as 
soon  as  means  and  men  could  be  found.  In  that  circular  the  Board  distinctly  de- 
fined its  intended  policy  with  respect  to  the  occupation  of  the  Mexican  capital. 

In  no  other  field  occupied  by  the  Presbyterian  Board  has  faithful  labor  been  so 
richly  rewarded  as  in  Mexico.  In  a  single  year  twenty-one  congregations  have 
been  gathered,  varying  in  attendance  from  30  to  250  each.  Mexico  City,  in  the 
south,  and  Zacatecas  in  the  north,  are  the  chief  foci  around  which  these  little 
flocks  cluster.  The  number  of  American  missionaries  is  now  seven,  viz.,  Rev.  M. 
N.  Hutchinson  and  wife,  and  Miss  E.  P.  Allen,  at  the  capital ;  Rev.  H.  C.  Thom- 
son and  wife  at  San  Luis  Potosi ;  Rev.  Maxwell  Phillips  and  wife  at  Zacatecas. 
A  part  of  the  year  Rev.  P.  H.  Pitkin  and  wife  were  employed,  but  they  have  now 
returned  to  this  country.  At  Toluca,  45  miles  south-west  of  the  capital,  an  Eng- 
lish layman,  Mr.  James  Pascoe,  is  laboring  as  a  missionary  of  tlie  Board  with 
very  marked  success.  His  little  congi-egation  has  grown  from  20  to  about  150. 
On  a  recent  occasion  125  partook  of  tlie  communion.  Toluca,  as  well  as  the 
small  congregations  at  Capulhuac  and  Metepic,  have  experienced  bitter  persecution 


V82  PRESBYTERTAlSr    CHURCH. 

at  the  hands  of  a  Papal  mob  instigated  by  the  priests.  Other  congregations  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  national  capital  are  those  of  Tisapan,  Contradcre,  Rio  Grande,  San 
Pedro  del  Martic,  and  Morelos.  Another  has  been  formed  at  Vera  Cruz,  on  the  Gulf 
coast,  and  there  is  an  Indian  congregation  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  lalce,  adja- 
cent to  the  city.  Some  of  these  congregations  have  exhibited  a  very  creditable  dis- 
position to  self-help.  In  others,  proprietors  of  manufacturing  establishments,  and 
even  commandants  of  garrisont,  have  contributed  liberally  toward  the  support  of 
schools  and  public  worship. 

At  Zacatecas,  the  other  centre  of  operations,  500  miles  north  of  Mexico  City, 
another  congregation,  numbering  250  persons,  was  organized  in  December  last. 
Measures  are  to  be  taken  at  once  for  securing  a  permanent  place  of  public  worship, 
and  in  this  effort  some  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  the  place  have  signified 
their  readiness  to  assist.  Sixty  miles  north-east  of  Zacatecas,  in  the  mining  to\vn 
of  Cos,  is  the  oldest  and  largest  congregation  connected  with  the  Presbyterian 
Board.  It  was  transferred  two  years  ago  from  the  American  and  Foreign  Chris- 
tian Union,  though  it  never  had  the  care  of  a  missionary  until  about  a  year  since. 
Its  growth  has  been  spontaneous.  Even  the  sacraments  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's 
Supper  have  been  administered  by  laymen  chosen  from  its  own  ranks.  This  congre- 
gation has  a  neat  chapel,  and  sustains  a  Sunday  school  of  1 30  pupils.  There  are  in 
connection  with  it  also,  a  boys'  day  school  of  60  pupils,  and  a  girls'  school  of  45.  - 
There  is,  moreover,  at  Cos  a  printing  press,  from'which  is  issued  a  weekly  relig- 
ious paper,  whose  influence  is  already  felt  in  many  parts  of  the  Republic.  About 
26  adults  have  been  baptized  at  Cos  within  a  few  months,  besides  several  children. 
On  a  recent  occasion  150  partook  of  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

Other  congregations  around  this  northern  centre  are  located  at  San  Luis 
Potosi,  Salado,  Fresnillo,  Tecoletes,  Jerez,  Cruces,  and  Guadaloupe.  These 
congregations  vary  in  size  from  50  to  100.  The  numbers  of  baptisms  in  these 
northern  fields,  during  the  summer  and  autumn,  have  been  about  85  adults  and 
20  children.  While  only  the  places  above  named  have  thus  far  been  visited, 
there  are  others  in  which  a  similar  work  might  be  done,  but  for  the  lack  of  funds 
and  of  men.  Since  the  overthrow  of  Maximilian,  the  political  reaction  of  the 
country  has  been  attended  by  a  religious  reaction.  Large  numbers  of  the  people, 
anxious  to  throw  off  the  long-endured  tyranny  and  corruption  of  the  Spanish 
priesthood,  are  ready  to  receive  the  Bible,  and  in  many  a  hamlet  they  are  found 
meeting  in  private  houses  for  worship  and  for  the  study  of  the  Word.  It  has  been 
the  policy  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  and  its  missionaries  to  place  little  reliance 
upon  converted  Mexican  priests,  but  rather  to  raise  up  a  class  of  young  men 
selected  from  the  laity,  who,  with  at  least  a  partial  theological  training  given  by 
the  missionaries,  shall  be  employed  to  preach  in  the  small  country  congregations. 
In  the  early  beginnings  of  missionary  work  it  was  found  necessary  to  employ 
priests,  who  claimed  to  have  been  converted;  but  a  foundation  of  Jesuitical  ante- 
cedents is  seldom  suited  to  the  superstructure  of  a  sincere  and  earnest  ministry  of 


EXPLANATORY    AND    STATISTICAL.  783 

the  Gospel.  The  success  gained  in  the  training  of  young  laymen  has  been  most 
satisfactory. 

The  Board  has  adopted  the  plan  of  projecting  its  work  on  a  scale  of  economy 
and  self-help,  which  shall  prepare  the  people  for  a  self-supporting  church  work  in 
the  future.  No  gi-eater  mistake  could  be  made  than  to  begin  the  work  of  Mexican 
evangelization  by  the  purchase  of  grand  cathedrals  confiscated  from  the  Papacy  by 
government,  and  by  establishing  a  grade  of  expenditure  which  the  people  them- 
selves can  never  perpetuate  or  extend.  Plain  and  substantial  structures  should  be 
secured,  especially  in  the  cities,  and  in  this  respect  our  Mexican  Mission  is  as  yet 
deficient.  But  the  purchase  of  the  best  cathedrals  by  the  Protestants  has  been 
objected  to  by  President  Lerdo,  as  likely  to  exasperate  the  Papal  party. 

It  is  the  policy  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  to  encourage  simple  forms  of  worship, 
plain  and  inexpensive  chapels,  and  in  all  things  that  strict  economy  which  is  suited 
to  a  poor  people  ;  to  cultivate  self-reliance  and  liberality  on  the  part  of  the  con- 
gregations themselves  ;  to  train  up  a  ministry  from  the  young  men  of  the  land  ;  to 
qualify  a  corps  of  native  teachers,  male  and  female,  to  give  instruction  in  primary 
schools,  etc.  The  whole  work  proceeds  upon  the  principle  that  what  Mexicans 
need  is  a  Protestant  Church,  wholly  their  own,  to  be  in  the  near  future  supported 
and  extended  by.  themselves.  This  line  of  effort  has  thus  far  proved  eminently 
successful  in  gaining  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  in  stimulating  their  own  ex- 
ertions. 

Meanwhile,  the  prayers  of  all  who  love  the  cause  of  a  pure  Christianity  should 
be  offered  on  behalf  both  of  the  missionaries  and  of  the  truth-loving  people  who, 
in  the  face  of  persecution,  are  trying  to  maintain  the  standard  of  the  Cross.  It  is, 
perhaps,  best  on  the  whole  that  the  Mexican  Church,  in  its  infancy,  is  tried,  as 
were  the  Apostolic  Churches,  by  the  fires  of  persecution.  No  less  than  seven  of 
our  little  congregations  have  been  beset  by  Catholic  mobs,  and  in  some  cases 
deaths  have  followed.  The  stoning  of  worshipping  congregations,  the  purchase 
and  destruction  of  Bibles  and  religious  books,  are  common  occurrences. 

A  late  dispatch  through  the  secular  press  announces  that  one  of  our  missiona- 
ries. Rev.  Maxwell  Phillips,  of  Zacatecas,  has  been  assaulted  and  maltreated  by  a 
band  of  assassins,  led  on  by  a  priest.  Evidently  the  Catholic  Church,  wherever  it 
is  not  restrained  by  a  strong  and  prevailing  Protestant  sentiment,  is  the  same  that  it 
ever  has  been  since  the  days  of  the  Inquisition.  But  its  mistaken  outrages  in 
Mexico  will  only  further  the  spread  of  the  truth.  The  relation  of  Church  and 
State  has  been  abolished,  and  naturally  the  Protestant  movement  will  gather  the 
support  of  the  whole  liberal  party  of  the  country.  The  great  advantage  thus 
gained  will  appear  in  strong  light,  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  old  constitution 
declared  that  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  was,  and  ever  should  be,  the  religion 
of  the  country  ;  that  no  other  whatever  should  be  tolerated.  There  are  some 
among  us  even  yet  who  are  not  clear  that  Protestant  missionary  effort  is  needed  in 
Mexico.     For  such  the  following  description  is  quoted:   "The  Mexican  Church 


784  PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

as  a  church,"  says  Lempriere,  "  fills  no  mission  of  virtue,  no  mission  of  morality, 
no  mission  of  mercy,  no  mission  of  charity.  Virtue  cannot  exist  in  its  pestiferous 
atmosphere.  The  code  of  morality  does  not  come  within  its  practice.  It  knows 
no  mercy,  and  no  emotion  of  charity  ever  nerves  the  stony  heart  of  the  priesthood, 
which,  with  an  avarice  that  has  no  limit,  filches  the  last  penny  from  the  diseased 
and  dying  beggar,  plunders  the  widow  and  orphans  of  their  substance  as  well  as 
their  virtue,  and  casts  such  a  horoscope  of  horrors  around  the  death-bed  of  the 
dying  millionaire,  that  the  poor  superstitious  wretch  is  glad  to  purchase  a  chance 
for  the  safety  of  his  soul,  by  making  the  church  the  heir  of  his  treasures." 


INDEX. 


A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  615. 

Abeel,  John  N. ,  253. 

Abingdon  Presbytery,  134. 

Abington,  115. 

Act  of  Banishment,  44. 

Adams,  W.,  214,  42G,  472,  481,  552, 

565,  627. 
ADorTiNG  Act,  117. 
Advertising  Sermons,  368. 
AiED,  John,  52. 
AlTKEN,  R.,  312. 
A  Kempis,  Thomas,  97. 
Albigenses,  The,  8. 
Alexander  III.,  Pope,  11. 
ALEXANDER,  A.,  135,  258,  338. 
H.  C,  264. 
J.  A.,  265. 
J.  W.,  263,  310. 
S.  D.,  266. 
Allen  Street  Church,  N.  Y.  ,  378. 
Allison,  J.,  426. 
F.,596. 
Patrick,  131. 
Allentown,  129. 
Alva,  Dnke  of,  99. 
American  Bible  Society,  189. 
American  Presbyterian,  The,  245. 
Amwell,  N.  J.,  122. 
Angrogna,  Council  of,  19. 
Ann.vn,  R.,  313. 
Appoquininy,  115. 
Argtle,  Marquis  of,  44. 
Arnold  of  Brescia,  101. 
"  Articles  of  Perth"  annulled,  42. 
Assembly,    General,    of    1837,    153, 
161 :  '38,  153  ;  '39,  203,  207,  359  ; 
'40    164,  203;  '42.   164;  '45,  162; 
'46,   163,  203,   210,  228;  '47,   211, 
213  ;  '49,  163,  213,  229  ;  '50,  229  ; 
'51,  213  ;  '52,  163,  214  ;  '53,  229 ; 
'54    164  ;  '57,  225,  230,  333  ;   '60, 
226,  334 ;  '61,  163,  176,  232  ;  '62, 
163    233,  421  ;  '63,  180,  421 ;   '64, 
163    170,  237,  422  ;  '66,  423  ;  '67, 
237    341  ;  '68,  441  ;  '69,  469,  489, 
547;  '70,  593. 
Assembly,  Triennial,  155. 
Atwater,  L.  H.,  481,  524. 
Auburn  Seminary,  137,  198,  610. 
Augsburg  Confession,  96. 
Augustine,  Saint,  7. 
Augustine,    the    monk    with    forty 
associates,  Coming  of,  59. 
50 


Austria,  Presbyterian  Church  in,  107. 
Reformation  in,  110. 

Backus,  J.  C. ,  623,  624. 

J.  T.,  426,  601,  626,  708. 
Baird,  John,  52. 
Balch,  Dr.,  313. 
Baldwin,  John  C,  241. 
Theron,  242. 
Baltimore,  Presbytery  of,  131. 
Banishment,  Act  of,  44 

of  Irish  pastors,  54. 
Barnes,  A.,  389,  405. 
Bartholomew's  Day,  72,  103. 
Beatty,   C.  C,  426,  464,  472,  516, 
626,  707. 
O.,  726. 
Beecher,  L.,  383. 
D.,  383. 
H.  W.,  338. 
Beggars  of  HoUand,  99. 
Bem-VN,  N.  S.  S.,  216,  414. 
Benevolence,  Systematic,  164. 
Bethel,  131. 
Beza,  Theodore,  103. 
Bible,  Printing  of,  in  New  Jersey, 

128. 
Bible,  Wickliffe's,  60. 
Bible  Society,  American,  136,  189, 

279. 
Bible  Society,  First  m  U.  S.,  254. 
Blblical  Repository,  383. 
Bibliotiieca  Sacra,  382. 
BiLNEY,  Thomas,  62. 
Biographical  Sketches,  0.  S.,  251. 
N.  S.,  356. 
Bishops  ordained,  44. 
Blackburn,  G..  36!). 
Bladensburgh,  131. 
Blind  Preacher,  132. 
"  Blood's  Plot,"  54. 
Bo.\RDM.\N,  H.  A.,  334. 
Boards  of  the  Church,  192. 
BonEM:iA,  Evangelical   Church,   108, 

Book  of  Discipline,  190. 
BosTWicK,  David,  125. 
Bound  Brook,  129. 
Bowling,  Miss,  315. 
Bo\-D,  A.  11.  H.,  175. 
Brainerd,  T.,387,426.  _ 
Breckinridge,  R.  J.,  16y,  183. 
John,  270. 


786 


INDEX. 


Brtck   Church,   N.    Y.,  134,  506, 

535. 
Broadway  Tabernacle,  N.  Y.  ,  395. 
Brooks,  Emma,  342. 
Brown,  F.  T.,  426,  713. 

John,  62. 

W.  H.,  426. 
BUCER,  Martin,  65,  102. 
BuELL,  Samuel,  133. 
Buffalo  Creek,  Va.,  131. 
BULLARD,  A. ,  220. 
Burns,  Dr.,  167. 

Calvin,  John,  7,  76. 

His  Institutes  of  Theology, 
78. 
Calvinism,  79. 
Cambridge,  Synod  of  1646  at,  112. 

Platform,  113. 
Campbell,  J.    N.,  312. 

The  Missionary,  174. 
Candlish,  R.  S.  ,  47,  777. 
Cannon,  Dr.,  337. 
Cape  May,  115,  130. 
Carlinville,  370. 
Carlisle,  130,  395. 
Carrickfergus,  52. 
Carter,  R.,  464,  481,  511,  578. 
Catechism,  68,  116. 

Assembly's,  70. 

Heidelberg,  767. 
Centre  College.  370. 
Chalmers,  Dr.  Thos.,  46,  777. 

W.,  167. 
ClL\MBERS,  EUen  D.,  329. 
Chance  Ford,  131. 
Charitable  Contributions,  53. 
Charles  I.,  52. 

Accession  of,  69. 
Charles  v.,  98. 
Chartiers,  131. 
Chester,  Dr.,  334. 
Christian  Advocate,  255. 
Church  Erection,  220,  404,  621. 
Church  Extension,  223,  621. 
Church  Government,  70. 

Directory  of, 

in  Elizabeth's  reign,  67. 

Church  Mejibers,  Dismission  to  the 

world.  189. 
Cincinnati,  383,  388. 
Clark,  L.,  424. 
Clarke,  H.  K.,  426. 

Charles  J.,  556. 
Robert  A.,  556. 
Claverhouse,  45. 
Cogswell,  Catharine,  334. 
COHANSKY,  115. 
COLIGNY,  i03. 

College  of  New  Jersey,  275. 


Colonization  Society,  136,  189. 
Colorado,  Synod  of,  774. 
COLUMBA,  58. 
Columbus,  O.,  421. 
Committee  Ad  Interim,  207. 
Communion  Services,  117. 
Concurrent  Declarations  of  '09,  483, 

526. 
Conference  Committee  of  '69,  470, 

511. 
Conference  Committee,  Report  of, 

481. 
Confession  of  Faith,  35,  70,  117, 

206. 
Confession  of  Faith  in  Ireland,  49. 
Conformity  in  Ireland,  49. 
Congregationalism,         Disappears 

from  the  Old  School,  159. 
Congregational  Union,  135. 
Constantine  and  Methodius,  107. 
Convention,    Presbyterian  National 

Union,  of  '69,  195,  4-35. 
Cook,  Hemy,  129. 
CoRNBURY,  Lord,  114. 
Cornelius,  Dr.,  398. 
Council,  Irish,  49. 
Covenant,  Church  of,  505,  517,  531. 
Coven^vnt,    First,  30  ;  national,  37  ; 

its  renewal,  51. 
Cox,  S.  H.,  360. 
Craw,  Paul,  25. 
Cree,  T.  a.,  556. 
Cromwell,  70. 
Cross  Creek,  131. 
CuLDEES  at  lona,  23. 
Cumberl.vnd,  Va.,  1-31. 
CUJIMINGS,  Charles,  135. 
Cunningham,  Hugh,  52. 
Dr.,  167. 

Darling,  W.,  216. 

Davies,  Samuel,  126. 

Day,  H.,  464,  481,  511.  536,  551,  575. 

Declaration  and  Testimony,  182. 

Declarations,  Concurrent,  198. 

Deep  Run,  130. 

Delaware  College,  362. 

Derry,  Siege  of,  55. 

Detroit,  395. 

Resolution,  229. 

DiCKixsoN,  R.  W. ,  329. 

Dickson,  Cyrus,  601. 

Dilworth,  Joseph,  556. 

Disabled  Ministers'  Fund,  Secre- 
tary appointed,  163. 

DisciPLL\E,  Book  of,  68. 

Doctrinal  Tracts,  Committee  on, 
240. 

Doctrine,  Differences  as  to,  153. 

Doddridge's  Rise  and  Progi-ess,  138. 


INDEX. 


78' 


Dodge,  W.  E.,  472,  481,  512,  559, 

576,  628. 
Doiiraic,  15. 

Drake,  C.  D.,  481,  511,  574. 
DuFPiEi.D,  George,  130,  391. 
Dutch  Church,  136. 
Dutchess   County,  Presbytery   of, 

134. 
DwiGHT,  T.  W.,  431. 

Education,  68,  137,  163,  333,  618. 

in  Ireland,  56. 
Elder,  Derivation  of  word,  3.  , 

John,  130. 
Elders,  Ruling,  2,  164. 
Classes  of,  2. 
Rotation  in  ofi&ce  of,   166, 

653. 
in  the  Jewish  Economy,  3. 
Elliot,  David,  559,  602,  730. 
Ely,  E.  S.,  313,  365. 
Emblems,  100. 
Emigration     of     Presbyterians    to 

America  from  Ireland,  51,  56. 
England,  Presbyterian  Church  in,  58. 
Mission  to,  59. 
First  Presbytery  in,  67. 
Engles,  Mary,  316. 

W.,  309,  310,  322. 
Erasmus.  61,  97. 
Ervina,  366. 
Ethelbert,  59. 
Evangelicai-  Alliance,  168,   175, 

543. 
Evangelicalism  in  Ireland,  48,  49. 

in  England,  58. 
Evangelist,  New  York,  220,  245. 
Evangelization  from  the  East,  107. 
Ewing,  John,  129. 
Extempore  Preaching,  667. 

Faber,  Vicar-General, 76. 
Farrand,  J.  S.,  438,  481,  512,  729. 
Fisher,  S.,  358. 

S.W.,  216, 481,  512,  772,  778. 
Foote,  John  A..  549. 
Foreign  Missions,  240,  612. 
Form  of  Government,  207. 
Fowler,  P.  H.,  216,  426,  553,  596, 

718. 
Fox,  E.,  336. 
France,  Evangelical  Church  of,  106. 

Presbyterian  Church  in,  101. 

Persecution  in,  101. 
Francis,  W.  M.,  481,  511. 
Frederick,  The  Elector,  87. 

v.,  110. 
Free  Church,  Secession  of,  47. 
Freedmen,  622. 
Freehold,  N.  J.,  115,  121. 


Freeman,  The  Missionary,  174. 
French  Presbytery,  in  London,  65. 
Fryth,  John,  02. 

Fulton  Street  Prayer-meetiug,  174. 
Fund,  Memorial,  561,  633. 

Galloway,  S.  ,  426,  723. 
Garret,  Thomas,  63. 
Geddes,  Jenny,  41. 
General  Assembly,  2,  32. 

of  the  Confederate  States.  178. 
First,  of  the   Free  Church  of 

Scotland,  47. 
of  Glasgow,  51. 
Genevan  Bibles,  66. 
German  Philosophy,  377. 

Reformed  Church,  143. 
Gbrm.\ny,  Presbyterianism  in,  80. 
Gesenius,   381. 
Gilbert,  E.  W.,  358,  861. 
Gilpin,  H.  D.,  317. 
Gray,  J.,  316. 
Great  Rebellion  1641,   object  to 

destroy  Protestantism,  52. 
Great  Valley,  130. 
Greek  Church,  Missionaries  from, 

107. 
Green,  A.,  135,  251,  308. 

H.  W.,431. 
Grier,  M.  B.,310. 

J.  C,  481,  512. 
Griffin,  E.  D.,  322,  365. 
GURLEY,  P.  D.,  183,  336,  424,  426. 

Amendment,  The,  Circum- 
stances   of   its   introduc- 
tion, 439,  498. 
Guernsey,  Synod  at,  64. 
Guthrie,  James,  44. 

Thomas,  777. 

Hageman,  John  F.,  270. 
Haines,  D.,  431,  481,  512. 
Hall,  A.  G.,  481,  511,  778. 
John,  543,  559,  571. 
Hamilton,  Patrick,  25. 

College,  241,  373,  380. 
Hampton,  John,  114. 
Handy,  T.  P.,  426,  727. 
Hardwick,  129. 
Harper  akd  Brothers,  321. 
Hatfield,  E.  F.,  213,  426,  601,  716. 
Heidelberg  Catechis.m,  634,  767. 
Hengist  and  Horsa,  58. 
Henry  II.,  103. 

VIII.,  49. 
Heresy  in  Ireland,  Statutes  against, 

48,  40. 
Herron,  Wilham  A.,  556. 
Hill,  W.,  306. 
Historical  Re\-iew  of  the  Church, 

Old  School,  149 ;  New  School,  198. 


INDEX. 


HiTcncocK,  H.  L.,  426. 
IIODGE,  C,  334,  434,  43G. 
Holland,  Reformed  Church  of,  97  ; 

Confession  of  Church  of,  99. 
Holmes,  Sarah  H.,  329. 
Home  Missionakies,  128. 
Home  Missions,  Committee  of,  136, 

228,  239,  612. 
Home  Missionary  Society,  20G. 
Howard,  W.  D.,  426,  709. 
Hudson,  Presbytery  of,  134. 
Huguenots,  103 ;  Banishment  of,  105. 
Humphkey,  Z.  M.,  549. 
Hungary,   Presbyterian   Chiirch  in, 

107;  Persecutions  in,  111. 
Huss,  John,  108.    ' 
Hyde,  Dr.,  358. 

Independents,  66. 

Indulgences,  87. 

Innocent  III.,  12. 

Inquisition,  Origin  of.  15. 

lONA,  Island  of,  20,  59. 

Ireland,  Emigration,  from  56  ;  Sus- 
tentation  Fund  in,  56  ;  First  Presby- 
tery in,  52  ;  Missionary  Fund  in, 
55 

Irish  Council,  54. 

General  Assembly,  169. 

Jackson,  William,  114. 
Jacobus,-M.  W.,  511,  533,  551,  568, 

732. 
Jamaica,  L.  I.,  113. 
James  I. ,  Accession  of,  68. 
Janeavay,  Jacob  J.,  254. 
Jefferson  College,  367. 
Jenny  Geddes,  41. 
Jerome  of  Prague,  109. 
Jessup,  W.,  216,  405. 
Johnson,  the  Missionary,  174. 

Dr.,  338. 
Joint  Committee,  511,  521. 

Communion  Season,  534. 
Jones,  C.  C,  170. 
J.  H.,  304. 
Jubilee  Thanksgiving,  162. 
JuDD,  G.  N.,  366. 
JuNKiN,  D.  X.,  339. 
G.,  290. 

Kent,  Chancellor,  211. 
Kentucky  Churches,  134. 
KiNGSLEY,  Ezra  M.,  601. 
Knight,  J.  L.,  481. 
Knox,  John,  28. 

J.  H.  M.,  706. 
Krebs,  J.  M.,  318,  326,  426,  707. 

Lake  Forest  Institution,  243. 


L.V5IBERT,  E.  A.,  426,  728. 

Lane  Seminary,  200. 

Lasco,  John  a,  64. 

Lateran,  Council  of,  12. 

Laud,  Archbishop,  50. 

League  and  Covenant,  43. 

Leavitt,  H.  H.,  403. 

Lebanon,  131. 

Lepevre,  103. 

LeoX.,  91. 

Lewis,  G.,  167. 

Lexington,  Va.,  Presbytery  of,  132. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  179,  238,  341. 

Lind,  J.,  327. 

Liturgy,  190. 

in  Ireland,  49. 
LiYiNGSTON,  John,  52. 
"  Log  College,"  119. 
Lollards,  of  Kyle,  25. 
Londonderry,  N.  H.,  113. 
Long  Island,  115. 
Lord,  D.,  431. 

W.,  481,  511. 
Louisville,  Presbytery  of,  "  Decla- 
ration and  Testimony,"  182,  183. 
Luther,  80  ;  His  theses,  88. 
Lutherans,  80,  96. 
Lyon,  G.  A.,  216. 

Magie,  D.,  285,  360. 
Maidenhead,  115. 
Makemie,  Francis,  114. 
Manses,  190. 

M.VNSPIELD,   129. 

Marriage,  action  of  Assembly,  188. 
Marietta  College,  243. 
Martyrs,  in  Mary's  reign,  65. 
Maryland,  Presbyterians  in,  113. 
Marysville  College,  241. 
Mason,  John,  216. 

JohnM.,  321,363. 

E.,  358,  362. 
Mather,  Cotton,  112. 
Maynard,  H.,  216. 
McCoRD.  John  D.,  556. 
McCorkle,  W.  a.,  394. 
McCoRMiCK,  C.  H.,  173. 
McCoy,  S.  F.  601., 
McDowell,  J.,  281,  323. 
W.  A.,  289. 
McGregors,  James,  113. 
Mcknight,  R.,  426,  463,  473,  517, 

722. 
McLeod,  Norman,  540. 
McMullen,  the  JMissionary,  174. 
McWhortkp,  129: 
Melancthon,  91,  102. 
Melville,  Andrew,  36. 
Memorial  Fund,  5'Jl,  633,  673. 
Mendham,  129. 


INDEX. 


789 


MERCERSBtFRG,  130. 

Methodists,  Welsh  Calvinistic,  535. 
Preachers'  Meeting,  536. 
Methodius,  107. 
Metuchen,  129. 

Mexico,  Presbyterian  Church  in,  781. 
]MiA3ii  University,  404. 
Middle  Spring,  130. 
IMiLLER,  S.,  136,  267. 
Mills,  H.,  375. 

T.  A.,  211,  213,  215. 

MiLLENAJlIANISM,  188. 

Ministerial  Relief,  240,  308,  622. 
SiiNlSTRY,  Demission  of,  188. 
Missions,  in  Ireland,  56. 

Home,  136,  162,  218. 
Foreign,  161,  614. 
Moderator,  of  O.  S.  Assembly  of  69, 
510,  of  N.  S.  Assembly  of  '69,  511. 
Monfort,  J.  G.,  426,  463,  708. 
Montrose,  130. 
Morehead,  Gen.  J.  K.,  556. 
Morristown,  129,  358. 
Murray,  Earl,  35. 
N.,  320. 
J.,  320. 
Musgrave,  G.  W.,  472,  511,  516,  551, 
564,  743. 

Nantes,  Edict  of,  105. 

Nassau  Hall,  126. 

National  Covenant,  third  renewal  of, 

51. 
Navarre,  Henry  of,  103. 
Neander,  381. 
Neill,  W.,  276. 
Nelson,  H.  A.,  426,  720. 
Neshamdjy,  119,  130. 
Netherlands,     the,     Presbyterian 

Church   in,    97. 
Netherlands,  the.  Inquisition  in,  98. 
Newark,  358,  371,  422. 
New  Brunswick,  129. 

Presbytery  of ,  119. 
New  Castle,  Presbytery  of,  115. 
New  Providence,  129. 
New  School,  test  their  title,  156. 

did  not  desire  the  sepa- 
ration of  37,  199. 

efforts  for  reunion,  202. 
New  Testament,  Tyndale's,  62. 
Newtown,  114,  116,  130. 
New  York,  Social  EntertaiDment  of 

'69,  471. 
Synod  of,  124. 
NiSBET,  Dr.,  268. 
North  Garden,  Va.,  181. 
NoTT,  E.,  272. 

Ogden,  J.,  216. 


Oldcastle,  Sir  John,  61. 

Old  School  and  New  School,  Rel- 
ative strength  in  '37,  155. 

Old  School  and  New  School,  Suit 
at  law  between,  156. 

Old  School  and  New  School,  Dif- 
ference between,  157. 

Old  Side  and  New  Side,  153. 

Orange,  129. 

Prince  of,  55. 

Ormont),  Duke  of,  54. 

Oswald,  59. 

OvERTURiNG    to    the    Presbvteries, 
529. 

Parliament,  Long,  70. 

Paris,  Ky.,  403. 

Party  Names,  149. 

Pastoral  Letter,  546. 

Pastors,  4. 

Paterson,  359. 

Patrl^rchal  form  of  government, 

2. 
Patrick,  St. ,  48. 
Patrick,  Hamilton,  25. 
Patterson,  J.,  366,  388. 

R.    W.,   216,   426,   481, 

512,  525,  720. 
W.,  330. 
Patuxent,  115. 
Pebles,  Thomas,  52. 
Permanent    Committee  on    For- 
eign Missions,  240. 
Persecutions,  in  Italy,  15. 

of  James  II..  4j. 
Peoria,  180,  421. 
Peter  of  Bruys,  101. 

Waldus,  8. 
Peters,  A.,  366,  504. 
Philadelphia,  Arch  Street  Church, 
411. 
First      Presbyterian 

Church,  594. 
Presbytery  of ,  115. 
Pine  Street  Church, 

388 
Synod  of,  116. 
Philip  IL,  98. 
Phillips,  W.  AV.,  301,  311, 
Pittsburg,  131. 

Circular,  500,  740. 
First  Church,  553. 
Third  Church,  592. 
Plumer,  Dr.,  334. 
Porter,  W.  M.  ,  442. 
Postlethwaite,  M.  ,  318. 
Potts,  A.,  319. 
G.,  316. 
G.  C,  316. 
Prelacy,  71. 


790 


INDEX. 


Prentiss,  G.  L.,  632. 
Presbyterian— 

Doctrines,  7. 

National    Union     Convention, 

498. 
Publishing  Committee,  240. 
Quarterly  Review,  245. 
The,  264,  310. 

The  Word,  from  Presbyter,  1. 
Presbyterian  Church — 

Associate  Reformed,  138,  141. 
Cumberland,  141. 
General  Statistics  of,  779. 
in  America,  112,  139,  780. 
in  Canada,  144,  780. 
in  Ireland,  48. 
in  Mexico,  781. 
in  Scotland,  20,  780. 
Reformed,  138. 
Reformed  Synod,  South,  141. 
Southern,  Committees  of,  142. 
Foreign  Miissions  of,  142. 
Theological  Seminaries  of,  142, 
United,  138. 
Presbyterianism    among  the  Puri- 
tans, 112. 
in   America,  Pro- 
hibition of,  114. 
Presbyterians,  in  the  British  Em- 
pire, 73. 
Number  of,  2. 
Where  found,  2. 
Presbyteries,  in  America,  in  1816, 
136. 
in  1825,  137. 
Presbytery,  1. 

Associate,  46. 
First  in  America,  115. 
First  in  Ireland,  52. 
Founded  by  Columba, 

23 
Relief,  46. 
President  of  the  U.  S.,  Letter  to, 
234. 
Reply  to  the  Letter,  235. 
Primitive  Christianity,  12. 
Prime,  E.  D.  G.  ,  514. 

S.  I.,  403,  514. 
Princeton,  129. 

College,  56, 126,  375,  736. 
Seminary,  136,  160,  172, 

174. 
Theology,  160. 
Progress,  Human,  150. 
Protest  of  1808,  Answer  to,  4o7 
Protestant,  Title  of,  93. 
Providence,  Va.,  131. 
Psalmody,  136. 
Psalms  in  Metre,  116. 
Publication,  101,  015. 


Puritans,  66. 

Presbyterianism      among 
the,  112. 

Raitway,  129. 

Ray,  J.  M.,  426,  721. 

Rayxer  and  Guy,  12. 

Rea,  Samuel,  556. 

Rebellion,  The  Great,  52. 

Reconstruction  of  the  Old  School 

in  '38,  159. 
Reconstruction,   Joint  Committee 

on,  602,  603,  763. 
Reed,  Isaac,  137. 

V.  D.,  426,  464,  601,  711. 
Reese,  E.  J. ,  324. 

Reformed  (Dutch)  Church,  143,  541. 
Theological  Seminaries  of,  144. 
Rehoboth,  116. 
Repentance,  88. 
Resby,  John,  14. 

Resolutions  in  New  School  Assem- 
bly relating  to  the  state    of    the 
country,  233. 
Reunion,  Committee  of  '66,  340,  426. 
their  Report,  428. 
their  Report  m  '68,  442. 
Address  of  January,  '69,  466. 
Sketches  of,  700. 
Reunion,  Certificate,  736. 

First  Action  for,  422. 
Initiative  Movement,  495. 
Plan  of,  482. 
Preparation  for,  419. 
Progress  of,  194. 
Resolutions  of  '66,  424. 
Social,  514. 
Terms  of,  in  '68,  447. 
Vote   in  O.  S.  Assembly, 

'69,  528. 
Vote  in  N.  S.  Assembly, 

'69,  588. 
Vote    of  the  Presbyteries 
on,  548. 
RiCHAKDS,  J.,  206,  358,  371. 
Robinson,  E.,  379. 

David,  556. 
Rockwell,  J.  E.,  438,  714. 
RoDGERS,  John,  125. 
R.  K.,550. 

RODIGER,  381. 

Roe,  Azel,  129. 
Romish  B^\ptisms,  189. 
Ross,  F.  A.,  175. 

J.,  313. 
Rough,  John,  29. 
Round  Hill,  131. 
Ruling  Elders,  Theories  as  to,  165. 
Rutgers  Street  Church,  N.  Y., 
134. 


INDEX. 


791 


Sabpath  Schools,  661. 
Sautre,  William,  61. 
Saxons,  58. 

SCHENCK,  W.  B.,  426,  710. 
Scotland,  20,  152,  167,  559,  663. 
Scott,  John,  52. 

Scriptures,  Move  use  of  the,  6C0. 
Seaton,  Alexander,  26. 
Separation,    Disadvantages    of,    to 
New  School,  201. 
Grounds  of,  152. 
Session,  1. 
Setauket,  116. 
Seward,  W.  H.,  236. 
Sharswood,  Gr.,  431. 
Shaw,  J.  B.,  426,  511,  512,  718. 
Shedd,  W.  G.  T.,  457. 
SiGiSMUND,  Count,  102. 
Simpson,  James,  52. 
Singing,  in  Public  Worship,  666. 
Skinner,  T.  H.,  395,  410. 
T.  H.,  Jr.,  524. 
Slavery,  Doctrine  of  Old  School  on, 
136,  168. 
Kelations  of  New  School 

to,  228. 
Its  Removal  aids  Reunion, 
420. 
Slaymaker,  Faithful,  392. 
Smith,  A.  D.,  215,  216,  378. 
H.  B.,  196,  423. 
■Joseph,  296. 
Snow  Hill,  Md.,  114. 
Social  Reunion,  635. 
Societies,  Voluntary,  191. 
Society  for  promoting  CoUegiate  and 
Theological  Education  at  the  West, 
243. 
Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  53. 
SoRBONNE,  (  ollege  of  the,  77. 
Southern  Presbyterian  Church,  185, 

537,  540,  627. 
Spencer,  A.,  314. 
Spires,  Diets  of,  95. 
Sports,  Book  of,  69. 
Spottswood,  38. 
Spring,  Dr.  G.,  177,  321,  329,  349, 

359,  523,  534. 
Sproat,  Dr.  James,  129. 
Statistics,  of  Old  School,  695. 
of  New  School,  702. 
of  Consolidated   Church, 

765. 
of  the  Southern  Church, 
766. 
St.vrr,  F.,405. 

F.,  Jr.,  400. 
Stearns,  J.  F.,  426,  481,  509,512, 

524, 536. 
Steele,  R.  W.,  426. 


Stevens,  Col.  Wm.,  113. 
St.  Louis,  398,  423. 
Strong,  G.  P.,  426,  725. 

W.,  431,  481,  512,  573. 
Stuart,  Geo.  H.,  556,  559,  577. 

M.,  380. 
Students  of  Divinity,  08. 
Suffolk,  Presbytery  of,  133. 
Switzerland,  Presbyterian  Church 
in,  74. 
Ladulgences  in,  75. 
Synagogue,  4. 
Synod,  Provincial,  71. 
The,  1. 

Taylor,  S.,  216. 
Temper.vnce,  135. 
Tennents,  The,  119. 
Tennessee  Chiu-ches,  134. 
Tetzel,  87. 
Theological  Seminaries,  609. 

AUegheny,  137,  173. 

Andover,  380. 

Auburn,    173,   206,   243,    371, 
737. 

Chicago,  173. 

Columbia,  173. 

Danville,  173. 

Lane,  137,  173,  300,  387. 

New  Albany,  173. 

Princeton,  171,  331,  337. 

Union,  173,  206,  364,  365,  378, 
381. 

IJnion,  Va.,  137,  172,331. 

School  for  Germans,  245. 
Theology,  New  School,  248. 
Theses,  Luther's,  88. 
Thirty  Yeaks'  War,  110. 
Tholuck,  Dr.,  381. 
Thornw^ll,  J.  H.,  165. 
Tours,  Coimcil  of,  11. 
TOUSSAINT,  Pien-e,  103. 
Transubstantiation,  76. 
Transylvanlv,  Presbytery  of,  134. 
Trenton,  N.  J.,  129. 
Twelve  Conclusions,  61. 
Tyndale,  William,  63. 

UNIFORmTY,  Act  of,  71. 

Union  College,  337. 

Uniti;d  Presbyterian  Church  of  Eng- 
land, 73. 

United  Synod  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  231. 

University  of  Vermont,  363. 

V.VLOis,  Margaret  of,  103. 
V.VN  Dyke,  H.  J.,  638. 
Van  Rensselaer,  C,  330. 
S.,330. 
Vaudois,  10,  101. 


792 


INDEX. 


Wabash  College,  242. 
Waddell,  James,  lo2. 
Waldenses,  18,  19. 

Descent  of,  8. 
Persecutions  of,  12. 
Waldus,  Peter,  8. 
Walker,  R.  J.,  317. 
Wallace,  Dr.,  228. 
Wall  Street  Church,  N.  Y.,  134. 
Wandsworth,  G7  ;  Orders  of,  G7. 
Ware,  Dr.,  358. 
Washington  Monument,  214. 
Webster  College,  400. 
Week  of  Prayer,  175. 
Welsh,  Dr.,  4G. 
Welsh  Tract,  115. 
Western  Education  Society,  217. 

Foreign  Missionary  Society, 
161. 

Reserve  College,  242. 
AVest  Hanover,  131. 
Westminster,  Assembly,  70. 
Standards,  166. 
Weston,  401. 
White,  H.,  376. 

Preaching  of,  378. 


White  Clay  Creek,  115. 
Whitepield,  121. 
Wickliffe,  John,  25,  60. 
William  of  Orange,  45,  98 
Williams,  H.,  426. 
Wilmington,  361. 
Wilson,  Joseph  M.,  190. 

E.  T.,  315. 

H.  R.,  481,  511. 
Wirt,  W.,  132,314. 
WisHART,  George,  27. 
WiswELL,  G.  F.,  438,  721. 
Witiierspoon,  John,  127. 

WOODBRIDGE,  N.  J.,  375. 

Woodbury,  N.  J.,  130. 
WooLSEY,  Cardinal,  61. 
Worms,  Diet  of,  92. 
Wylie,  S.  B.,  317. 


Yale  College,  331. 
York,  131. 

Zurich,  CouncQ  at,  75. 

ZwiNGLi,  UMc,  74 :  Doctrines  of,  75. 


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